Los Angeles Valley College Breaks Ground on Academic Complex

Los Angeles Valley College in Los Angeles, Calif., recently broke ground on a new Academic Complex Building in conjunction with Los Angeles Community College, according to local news. The 84,000-square-foot, three-story structure will replace a facility from the 1950s and include a lecture hall, computer labs, smart classrooms, and a skills demonstration and test room.

It will also play home to administrative space for the college’s departments of business administration, computer science information systems, emergency services, mathematics, psychology and statistics, and sociology/ethnic studies. Improvements to the overall site are set to include an 11,000-square-foot below-ground stormwater retention system, new pavement, and drought-tolerant landscaping.

The project has an estimated completion date of 2025, according to local news.

“We are happy with how this new facility will support and improve students’ learning,” said Board of Trustees President David Vela. “In addition to offering necessary services, the new structure will help students fulfill their educational aspirations. The Los Angeles Community College District is devoted to giving students access to high-quality, affordable educational opportunities. This will prepare them for new job paths.”

The San Fernando Valley Sun reports that the project will cost about $90 million in total.

The project, Academic Complex 1, is part of a larger $704-million renovation and building campaign to renovate its existing facilities and build new, more sustainable ones. Existing academic buildings will be outfitted with new technology and more modern energy-efficiency standards, according to the university website.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Building Beyond Simulation: Creating Immersive Ecosystems for Healthcare Education

    Health sciences education is one of the fastest-growing facility types in colleges and universities. The demand for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals is driving the creation and renovation of medical simulation training facilities that provide students with real-world experience through advanced simulation-based learning.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • DLR Group Hires Three for Higher Education Practice

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has brought three new hires on board to help shape its higher education practice in California and the northeast, according to a press release.