Santa Ana College Debuts New Student Center

Santa Ana College, located in Santa Ana, Calif., debuted its new $60-million student center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the evening of Tuesday, July 27. The Johnson Student Center measures in at 63,642 square feet and was funded through Measure Q bond funds approved by voters in 2012. The student center represents the penultimate district project that will be paid for with those funds.

“Based on recent social media engagement, students are excited to experience in-person this state-of-the-art building come this fall,” said Dalilah Davaloz, college spokeswoman.

The two-story facility will house financial aid offices, a campus bookstore, a health and wellness center, a cafeteria, and a student lounge area featuring billiards and table tennis tables. The new Johnson Student Center replaces the old student center of the same name, which was torn down in 2018.

The college partnered with HPI Architecture for the project. The facility is on target to be granted LEED Silver Certification. The college will hold an open house and hourly campus tours on Wednesday, July 28, and Thursday, July 29.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Children walking along bright school corridor with motion blur

    How Next-Gen Design Is Reshaping the Student Experience

    The environments where students learn play a crucial role in shaping their growth in and out of the classroom. By centering design on well-being, flexibility, and purpose, districts can ensure their facilities remain vibrant community assets for many years to come.

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Health & Science Building

    Health & Science Building

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The College of Western Idaho's Health & Science Building has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.