Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Orange Coast College Breaks Ground on New Chemistry Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/13/23

Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif., recently announced that it has broken ground on a new, $32.5-million Chemistry Building, according to a news release. The space will stand two stories and measure in at 43,800 square feet to include nine laboratories, lecture halls, meeting spaces, and faculty offices. The college is partnering with building company C.W. Driver and architecture firm tBP Architecture.

The project will involve the demolition of the vacant Literature & Languages Building, for which a replacement complex opened up in spring 2021. C.W. Driver was also the builder for the new Literature & Languages / Social & Behavior Sciences Complex, as well as other recent additions to the campus including the Kinesiology and Athletics Complex and the Student Union Complex.

The Chemistry Building will feature amenities like upgraded technology and infrastructure, exterior circulation and HVAC systems, outdoor study spaces, a social deck, and main lobby, the news release reports. It will increase available laboratory space by 60%, including accommodating larger classes and providing more individual workstations.

“Seeing these new buildings take shape on campus, and knowing that we have been a big part in their creation, brings us great satisfaction,” said C.W. Driver Companies Project Executive David Amundson. “We are proud of our longstanding partnership with the District and look forward to working on this newest addition.”

The project has an estimated completion date of December 2024, according to the news release.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • How a Portable Sink Helped an Art Classroom Run More Smoothly

    Classroom design decisions can have outsized effects on instructional time and safety at schools juggling mismatched infrastructure, strict budgets, and crowded schedules — particularly in the arts. Between spilled paint and dirty brushes, art classes run smoother with a sink in the studio. But many schools don’t have a sink in every art classroom.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.