East Los Angeles College Topping Off Ceremony Marks a Construction Milestone for the Performing and Fine Arts Complex

Three-building project is expected to be complete in spring, 2010

Construction on East Los Angeles College’s (ELAC) new $65-million Performing and Fine Arts Complex hit a milestone recently, as workers held a topping off ceremony to celebrate the completion of a significant portion of the steel infrastructure.  ELAC faculty and staff joined construction crews at the informal event for the 160,000-square foot “green” project, which will consist of three multi-level buildings: the Vincent Price Art Gallery, a recital hall and a theater building.

“We recognize the importance this project will have on East Los Angeles College, as well as the surrounding community,” said ELAC President Ernest Moreno.  “When complete, the Performing and Fine Arts Complex will represent one of the largest projects in the Los Angeles Community College District’s sustainable construction program; it will become the heart of East L.A.’s arts community; and it will be a vital resource for our students.”

Under an unusually rainy Los Angeles sky, attendees and workers placed their signatures on one of the complex’s central beams, in keeping with topping off tradition. 

Construction on the three buildings is expected to be complete spring, 2010.  The 40,382-square-foot gallery will include workshops and a lecture hall. It also will be home to more than 2,000 art pieces from the Vincent Price Collection – estimated to be worth $5 million.  The 77,078-square-foot recital hall will include facilities for painting, sculpture, print making, dance and ceramics/sculpture. There also will be design and drawing studios, music classrooms, choir and music libraries, music computer labs and rehearsal space.  The 42,110-square-foot theater building will have a drama theater, an experimental black box theater, costume workshop and rehearsal space.

“We are excited to see the Performing and Fine Arts Complex start to take shape,” said Mona Field, vice president of the Los Angeles Community College District’s Board of Trustees.  “Once complete, this will be a jewel for the College and the District, and we can’t wait to share it with the community.”

About East Los Angeles College
East Los Angeles College has an international, multicultural student body that complements the 14 communities making up its primary service area. The college offers both academic transfer courses that prepare students for admission to four-year colleges and universities and occupational programs that prepare students for careers in two years or less.

The college is located in the suburban community of Monterey Park, California, 10 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.  Facilities include an instructional center; bookstore; library; 20,000-seat sports stadium; 2,000-seat auditorium; and a 1,500-seat indoor swim stadium. The Associated Students Organization emphasizes social and cultural programs representative of the varied student body.

About the Los Angeles Community College District
With $5.7 billion in bond funding to modernize its nine colleges, the LACCD's sustainable building program is one of the nation's largest green construction efforts.  For more information on the LACCD's sustainable projects and a list of awards the District's building program has received, visit www.LACCDBuildsGreen.org.