MiraCosta College Completes $42.5M Chemistry, Biotechnology Building

MiraCosta College in Oceanside, Calif., recently finished construction on a new, $42.5-million Chemistry and Biotechnology Building, according to a news release. The university partnered with builder C.W. Driver Companies and HED Architects on the 20,630-square-foot facility, which will serve the school’s expanding STEM programs.

The new facility includes shaded outdoor gathering spaces that connect to the larger STEM quad, as well as covered porches and screened study spaces to encourage outdoor collaboration. The interior uses high-efficiency fixtures, eco-friendly materials, and sustainable finishes that integrate with the surrounding campus. The building was designed to meet LEED Silver certification standards, according to the news release.

“This is a significant milestone for MiraCosta College as we officially open the doors to the new Chemistry and Biotechnology Building,” said MiraCosta College Project Manager Joe Webber. “The world is facing challenges that will require innovative solutions, and STEM education will play a vital role in shaping the future. This facility provides our students and faculty with the tools, technology, and resources they need to explore, innovate, and make meaningful contributions to these fields.”

Amenities include modern instructional and lab spaces designed to meet industry needs and provide students with practical skills.

“We are proud to have collaborated with MiraCosta College on delivering this transformative facility,” said Andy Feth, C.W. Driver project executive. “Designed with sustainability, innovation, and student success in mind, this building represents our ongoing commitment to creating high-quality, future-ready educational spaces.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Empowering People Through Smart, Sustainable Campuses

    Sustainability is facing increasing scrutiny, with some questioning its costs and priorities. Yet for universities, it remains an essential driver of resilience, operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that sustainable transformation is not just about reducing energy consumption and emissions to comply with tightening regulations ‒ it’s about creating vibrant, comfortable environments where people can thrive, innovate and connect. For university leadership, this is a complex balancing act, with rising energy costs and limited budgets only adding to the challenge.

  • Ancient Resilience: How Indigenous Intelligence Shapes the 4Roots Education Building

    As climate change intensifies, educational spaces must evolve beyond basic sustainability toward true resilience – we must design environments that can adapt, respond, and thrive amid shifting, and intensifying, climate hazards. Drawing on indigenous wisdom and nature-based strategies, integrating resilient design offers a path to create learning environments that are not only functional but deeply in tune with their natural surroundings.

  • Uvalde Schools Receive AI Security Technology through Grant Program

    AI-powered gun detection and emergency response technology solutions provider Omnilert recently launched the Save Haven Grant program, according to a news release. The first recipient of the grant, aimed specifically at schools that have faced gun violence, will be the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (Uvalde CISD) in Uvalde, Texas.

  • Gretna East High School

    Gretna East High School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Gretna East High School has been recognized with an EDS 2025 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

Digital Edition