SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif.— San Mateo County Community College District’s new $88 million Kinesiology and Wellness Building remains on target for completion for Spring 2021.

Demolition begin in late 2017 with the team breaking ground on the project in Spring 2019. Blach Construction is the general contractor on this impressive project, while ELS Architecture and Urban Design is serving as architect.

“The existing athletic facilities were very old and outdated,” explained Keith Craw, Vice President of Operations, Blach Construction.

“In fact, until the old building was demolished, there was a sign directing people to a pool that was never actually built. San Mateo Community College District (SMCCCD) and Cañada College saw this as an opportunity to not only modernize their athletics facilities and programs, but expand their health and wellness curriculum and offer the surrounding community the ability to make use of this iconic new Center.”

The two-story, 115,000 square-foot state-of-the-art building will provide a modern, architecturally dramatic, fully accessible facility for both students and the local community.

In addition to serving as an iconic facility for the school, as well as its surrounding community, this much-needed and long-anticipated new home of the Cañada College Physical Education Department will include multi-purpose fitness and activity spaces, competition basketball and volleyball courts, two swimming pools, a rooftop yoga studio, shower and locker rooms, as well as classrooms and office spaces.

Classrooms will provide state-of-the-art settings for dance, Pilates, indoor cycling, and other fitness and wellness activities. The gym, furnished with retractable bleachers, will host volleyball and basketball classes as well as intercollegiate athletic events. In addition, the facility will provide the community with a public membership enterprise fitness facility with pool access. From the activated roof’s running track and yoga space, one will experience panoramic bay views.

“A significant challenge was Cañada College’s request that the program area exceed the original program statement,” said Clarence D. Mamuyac, Jr., president and CEO of ELS Architecture and Urban Design.

“Our response was to turn the roof of a two-story facility into a third level of robust, multiple programming opportunities, while providing access to some of the most incredible views in the Bay Area. The “activated roof” not only adds additional programming potential for the College, but the shade structure atop adds an interesting profile to the building that can be enjoyed from miles away.”

The project is targeted for Gold LEED certification.

The post Community College Wellness Building Targets 2021 Completion appeared first on School Construction News.

“With a student body of more than 6,000 individuals, modernizing the math and science facilities is essential to the long-term success of the college,” said Kaveh Amirdelfan, principal-in-charge of the project for HGA, in a statement. “Working with the college to develop a state-of-the-art facility for students and faculty alike will serve as an excellent model for future developments.”

The new building will advance the college’s commitment to tomorrow’s tech-savvy workforce. It will feature flexible classrooms, labs and faculty offices that will provide a modern learning environment for science education. The design team plans to include such key features as an indoor/outdoor learning commons that furthers the school’s commitment to the philosophy that learning happens everywhere. A plaza will also be designed adjacent to the building, creating a functional and attractive outdoor gathering space for students.

“The modernized building will be perfectly suited for 21st century students and teachers, especially in disciplines that directly relate to the region’s dominant professional industries,” said McCarthy’s Project Director Bill Niemann in a statement. “The sustainability features that will be incorporated will support the academic success of the students and ensure the longevity of the facility.”

The building will be designed to achieve LEED Gold certification and will be Net Zero Energy-ready, i.e., the amount of renewable energy created on the site will be equal to or more than the total amount of energy used by the building annually. The project will also participate in the PG&E Savings by Design Program, which will assist the school in meeting and exceeding California’s Title 24 energy-efficiency requirements.

“The sustainable design of the new facility will not only reduce the college’s operational costs, but will also provide a healthier environment overall,” added Kevin Day, design principal at HGA, in a statement. “The building will become an integral part of the science education on campus, and the learning environments provided there will help these students succeed in our 21st century workforce.”

The post Cañada College Plans for Math, Science Education Building appeared first on School Construction News.