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

  • Photo credit: Elkus Manfredi Architects

    University of Virginia Selects Design-Build Team for New Residential Complex

    The University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., recently announced that it has selected a design-build team for a new upper-class residential development on campus, according to a news release. Capstone Development Partners—in partnership with Elkus Manfredi Architects and the Hoar Construction/Hourigan construction team—will move forward with the three-building, 310,000-square-foot housing facility.

  • Indiana Wesleyan University Schedules Grand Opening for New Welcome Center

    Indiana Wesleyan University recently announced that it will soon open a new Welcome Center on its campus in Marion, Ind., according to a news release. The facility will serve as the home base for prospective students and their families to learn more about the university and student life there. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for February 19.

  • 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.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.