Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

MiraCosta College Completes $42.5M Chemistry, Biotechnology Building

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/24/25

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

  • TCU Marks Campus Expansion Milestone

    Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a topping-out ceremony to mark progress on a major campus expansion effort including four new residential facilities and a five-story parking garage, according to a news release.

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.