Construction News Briefs

April 22, 2024 –PCL Construction Services, Inc., a leader in higher education construction, and the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) broke ground on Los Angeles Valley College’s (LAVC) new Academic Building 2. The project is a key component of LAVC’s expansive $900 million investment in the renovation and building replacement program to modernize the learning experience for student success. 

“We are excited to begin construction on our Academic Building 2, an important complement to our building program to transform the college’s physical campus to meet the needs of students for decades to come,” said Dr. Barry Gribbons, president, Los Angeles Valley College. “The buildings includes modern, technology-enabled learning environments for Communication Studies, English, ESL, and Technology, which includes our Manufacturing program.”

LAVC’s Academic Building 2 is an approximately 60,000 square foot facility directly off the main quad in the heart of the campus. This new building will replace three aging buildings, offering cutting-edge resources and a fresh start for these departments. Further emphasizing its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, Academic Building 2 is designed to meet LEED Silver certification standards.

“With PCL’s track record of constructing more than 120 projects on 20 higher education campuses throughout Southern California, we bring extensive expertise to the LAVC Building 2 project," said Michael Headrick, PCL vice president and district manager. "This building represents more than just a physical space; it signifies the expansion of educational opportunities for the local community and we are excited to be apart of that.”

The new multi-disciplinary academic building is designed to ensure optimal functionality with the latest technology to foster interactive, flexible learning environments. The first floor will feature an innovative technology lab for manufacturing students.

“LACCD continues to fulfill its mission of student success in part by offering the best-in-class learning environments,” said LACCD Chancellor Dr. Francisco Rodriguez.  “The voters entrusted this district with $14.9 billion to transform our nine community colleges, and the new Academic Building 2 advances our commitment to deliver dynamic, education facilities that foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and embody our sustainability building goals.”

Designed by NAC Architecture, the building will feature movable desks and adaptable room configurations to support diverse teaching methods and collaborative activities. Additionally, faculty offices will be centrally located to enhance interaction and the sharing of resources among educators. A notable architectural feature is the vibrant yellow spine that not only adds a dynamic visual element but also extends into newly created green spaces. This design invites students and faculty to utilize various informal gathering areas for relaxation, team projects, and social interactions, enriching the overall campus community experience.

December 7, 2016 – Los Angeles Valley College and the Los Angeles Community College District celebrated the dual openings of the college's Student Union (SU) (SU) and Monarch Athletic Center (MAC) buildings today.

The award-winning 66,118 square-foot two-story Student Union (also referred to as the Monarch Center construction project) is the "new heart of campus activities" and houses key college services including the college’s Cafeteria, Bookstore, Lion Café (coffee bar/snack shop), Business Office, Student Life Office, and Student Health Center/Psychological Services.

This building is built to high "sustainable" standards including water-efficient landscaping, water reducing fixtures, roof and hardscape surfaces that reduce a heat island effect, and maximized use of open space. In addition, it features a unique stormwater management system that incorporates a rainwater rooftop "waterfall" that directs stormwater run-off through a dry river bed to the on-site stormwater detention pond, which captures 90% of the run-off, treats it, and allow it to naturally percolate into the underground water table.

In addition to sustainable design and construction, the building's notable design features include a unique eye-catching "yellow" second-floor “Skybox”, which offers panoramic views of the campus from the outdoor patio and walkway, as well as a sheltered outdoor seating area underneath. A Skybox conference room is located on the second floor as well as the Lion’s Den (student lounge), and the Study Lair (study room).

During rainstorms, there is a to cascades off the roof into a dry river bed that leds to an on-site detention pond.

The 20,509 square foot MAC (referred to as the Athletic Training Facility construction project) includes a classroom/meeting room, weight room, and locker rooms for women’s soccer, men’s football, and men’s & women’s track. The construction project also included the relocation of the baseball and softball fields, football practice field, archery range, batting cages, bullpens, support structures and the walking track.

Both the SU and the MAC facilities are built to high sustainable standards.

March 24, 2015 – Los Angeles Valley College today celebrated the opening of the college’s new Community Services Center (CSC), a beautiful new building that will house the college’s Community Services Department, Gymnastics Center and the Monarch Summer Camp, and will include a variety of learning and athletic spaces. The CSC is built to high sustainability standards.

The CSC is a multipurpose facility combining instructional, activity and administrative spaces. The instructional zone features a dividable lecture hall designed to accommodate a variety of Community Services programs, and a Computer Lab that will be used as an Athletics Study Hall during the day and an instructional classroom at night. The activity zone includes the Gymnastics Center and two large multi-purpose rooms for various dance, martial arts, community wellness and student activities. In addition, the activity zone features an indoor 30-foot climbing wall. The administrative zone houses the Community Services Program office.

The new building is about 29,000 square feet in size, and its $23 million budget was paid for with funding approved by voters as part of the $6 billion Los Angeles Community College Building Program. Valley College is one of nine colleges that make up the LACCD. Valley College is in the midst of a $626 million program to renovate and modernize the campus to better serve the San Fernando Valley and all of Los Angeles.

Built for sustainability, the Center’s green features include bio-retention areas to mitigate stormwater run-off, the use of drought-resistant California native plants and trees, low-flow bathroom fixtures for increased water efficiency, low-flow irrigation for increased water efficiency, low VOC paints and adhesives to be used, large overhang roofs to reflect and minimize solar heat gain while provide shading on hot days, natural ventilation in gymnastic spaces, and solar reflective glass to minimize solar heat gain within building.

Speaking at the event were Scott Svonkin, LACCD Board of Trustees President; Erika Endrijonas, LAVC President; Francisco Rodriguez, LACCD Chancellor; Monica and Daira Alatorre, parent and student in the LAVC Community Services Program; Paul Krekorian, L.A. City Councilman, 2nd District; and Mark Strauss, who oversees all construction at the college. Also attending the event were LACCD trustees Steve Veres, Mona Field and Nancy Pearlman.

January 14, 2015 – Los Angeles Valley College today celebrated the beginning of construction on two new campus projects funded by the Los Angeles Community College District’s $6 billion Building Program. The first building, the Community Work Force Development Center, (also known as the Valley College Gateway), will house the new administrative center of the college and will be the new home for the college’s workforce development programs.

The second building, the Athletic Training Facility will be a significant new addition to Valley’s sports facilities. It will include a stadium field house, a baseball field, a softball field, a javelin throw field, and an archery, hammer throw and discus area.

The 77,000-square-foot, two-story, $35 million Community Work Force Development Center, (also known as the Valley College Gateway), will serve as the new administrative center of the college and will house the LAVC Job Training / Extension and the CalWORKS/GAIN offices, whose focus are on workforce development. The Valley College Gateway will be a multipurpose facility, including classrooms and meeting spaces in addition to administrative offices. The building expects to be certified LEED Silver for environmental design. It is expected to be completed in mid-2016.

Budgeted at $31 million, the Athletic Training Facility will include 25,000-square feet of new athletic space at Valley College. It is expected to be completed this fall.

The new buildings are being paid for with funding approved by voters as part of the $6 billion Los Angeles Community College Building Program. Valley is one of nine colleges that make up the LACCD. Valley College is in the midst of a $612 million program to renovate, modernize, and expand the campus to better serve the San Fernando Valley and all of Los Angeles.

Speaking at the event were Scott Svonkin, LACCD Board of Trustees President; Francisco Rodriguez, LACCD Chancellor; Erika Endrijonas, LAVC President; Sukhsimran Sandhu, ASU President; Lennie Ciufo, Valley’s Job Training Program Director; Jim Fenwick, Valley’s Athletic Director; and Mark Strauss, who oversees all construction at the college. Also attending the event were LACCD trustees Mona Field and Nancy Pearlman, and former Valley College presidents Tyree Wieder and Susan Carleo.

October 27, 2014 – Los Angeles Valley College today celebrated the groundbreaking of the college’s new Student Union, which will bring together student-centered services and feature a new student gathering places. The Student Union is built to high sustainability standards, and is expected to receive Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.

Located at the heart of the Valley Glen campus on the site of the former cafeteria, the 41,000-square-foot Student Union will house a cafeteria, campus bookstore, student health center, business office, and the Associated Student Union (ASU) offices. It will also be home to the new Lion's Den, a dedicated space for students to gather and relax between classes, as well as a coffee bar.

One of the highlights of the new Student Union will be a unique "skybox" feature with panoramic views of the campus from the outdoor patio and walkway, with sheltered seating underneath for student gatherings. In addition, the new cafeteria dining area opens up to the covered outdoor patio that can be used as a student event plaza. The building is expected to be completed in 2015.

The new building is being paid for with funding approved by voters as part of the $6 billion Los Angeles Community College Building Program. Valley is one of nine colleges that make up the LACCD. Valley College is in the midst of a $612 million program to renovate, modernize, and expand the campus to better serve the San Fernando Valley and all of Los Angeles.

Speaking at the event were Scott Svonkin, LACCD Board of Trustees President; Francisco Rodriguez, LACCD Chancellor; Erika Endrijonas, LAVC President; Sukhsimran Sandhu, ASU President; and Mark Strauss, who oversees all construction at the college.

May 2013 – Los Angeles Valley College has released a newly updated construction sequencing diagram for the college's $626 million bond renovation and building project. The revised diagram includes an updated projected timeline for when Prop A/AA/J construction projects are anticipated to take place on campus between April 2013-March 2016. All Proposition A/AA/J construction is scheduled to be completed by 2016.

To view the presentation, click here [PDF: 6.8MB].

May 7, 2013 – Los Angeles Valley College today celebrated the groundbreaking of the Community Services Center (CSC), the latest project to start construction at the college under the Los Angeles Community College District's $6 billion construction program. The CSC will be the new home of the college's Community Services department, the Gymnastics Center and the Monarch Summer Camp. The CSC is being built to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards.

The new building will be about 29,300 square feet in size, and is paid for with funding approved by voters as part of the six billion dollar Los Angeles Community College Building Program. Valley College is one of nine colleges that make up LACCD. The college is in the midst of a $626 million building program to renovate, modernize, and expand the campus to better serve the central San Fernando Valley and all of Los Angeles.

The CSC will be a multipurpose facility with a unique combination of instructional, activity and administrative spaces. The instructional zone will feature a dividable lecture hall designed to accommodate a variety of Community Services programs, and a computer lab that will be used as an Athletics Study Hall during the day and an instructional classroom at night. The activity zone includes the Gymnastics Center and two large multi-purpose rooms for various dance, martial arts, community wellness, and student activities. In addition, the activity zone will feature an indoor 30-foot climbing wall. The Administrative Zone houses the Community Services Program office suite.

The CSC is seeking LEED Silver certification, continuing LACCD's commitment to buildings which have the lowest possible impact on the environment. Some of the sustainable features included in the project include areas to lessen stormwater run-off; the use of drought-resistant California native plants and trees; the use of low-flow bathroom fixtures and irrigation for increased water efficiency; a large overhang roofs to reflect and minimize solar heat gain while provide shading on hot days; natural ventilation in gymnastic spaces; and solar reflective glass to minimize solar heat gain within building.

January 2013 – Los Angeles Valley College has recently updated its construction sequencing for the college's upcoming bond construction projects. This update, which was needed due to a delay in construction caused by the LACCD's district-wide construction moratorium, provides the campus community with an updated schedule of the anticipated Prop A/AA/J construction projects at Valley College between April 2013-March 2016. All Proposition A/AA/J construction is scheduled to be completed by 2016.

To view the presentation, click here [PDF: 21.3MB].

October 18, 2012 – Los Angeles Valley College today celebrated the opening of the college's new Library and Academic Resource Center (LARC), which features a state-of-the art library, extensive new resources to facilitate learning for students, and a museum on the history of the San Fernando Valley. The LARC, which replaces the replace the original library that was built in the 1960s, incorporates environmentally-friendly design and sustainable construction.

The new building is about 92,000 square feet in size, and was paid for with funding approved by voters as part of the $6 billion Los Angeles Community College Building Program.

The Library component includes 750 seats and shelving for 260,000 volumes, along with a media library. The Academic Resource Center includes a computer commons, math lab, writing center, reading center, tutoring center and five lab/classrooms. The Staff Development area contains consultation and training areas. The LARC is home to the LAVC Historical Museum that focuses on the history of the San Fernando Valley. The museum, which was founded in 1975 by Dr. James Dodson, has a changing exhibition gallery as well as curatorial, exhibit preparation and archival research spaces.

The LARC is seeking LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold status, and sustainability features include the use of natural lighting throughout the facility, manual and motorized solar shades to help control heat and glare; high efficiency light fixtures; building materials made from recycled content and renewable resources; sustainable building materials as bamboo, a rapidly renewable material; waterless urinals and low-flow toilets; high-reflective white Cool Roof and an exterior Solid Phenolic Panel Rainscreen System to minimize solar heat gain and protect the building; occupancy sensors to reduce energy use; and the use of low odor and low emission paints, carpeting and finishes to improve air quality.

January 2012 – The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD)'s Building Oversight Committee (DBOC) recently published its 2011 Annual Report. This report provides an overview of the role of the DBOC, a listing and description of each college's projects completed, in progress and planned, and the costs involved and the remaining work to be done. Visit the LACCD Builds Green website for the LACCD District Building Oversight Annual Report 2011.

September 2011 – The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) publishes monthly updates on the sustainable building projects at each of its colleges on its LACCD Builds Green Web site, including Los Angeles Valley College.

These monthly progress reports provide an overview of the college's bond construction projects, funding and budget information, and details on each of the college's current sustainable construction projects. For more information, visit LACCD Builds Green Sustainabile Dash Board Report webpage.

May 2011 – Los Angeles Valley College recently published its Climate Action Plan, which outlines how the campus plans to become climate neutral by 2050. LAVC made an official commitment to by agreeing to the American College and University President's Climate Commitment in 2007. This 28-page Climate Action Plan, which is part of the college's commitment to sustainability, includes a complete greenhouse gas emissions inventory, a target date for becoming climate neutral, and the outlines the steps its has taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read the LAVC Climate Action Plan [PDF: 41.3MB].

April 25, 2011 – Representatives from Valley College made a presentation to the LACCD Board of Trustees' Infrastructure Committee on its proposed upgrades to remove existing barriers to comply with 2010 California Building Code and the U.S. Department of Justice 1991 ADA Standards. The proposal, in which LAVC was the first in the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) to present its plan, highlighted the need to upgrade non-compliant items campus-wide, including interior and exterior deficiencies, to the Art, Music, Foreign Languages, Behavioral Science, Humanities, Engineering, Business/Journalism, Math/Science, Life Sciences, North Gym, South Gym, and Campus Center buildings. There are also proposed updates to the ADA Masterplan and Path of Travel (POT) Improvements, and the Stadium.

Read the LAVC ADA Upgrades Proposal Presentation [PDF: 3.5MB].

February 23, 2011 – Los Angeles Valley College representatives gave the LACCD Board of Trustees an update on its Master Plan and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Addendum at the LACCD Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, February 23. The presentation provided an overview of the updates to the college's Facilities Master Plan and its EIR Addendum, as well as an overview of the proposed Media Arts & Performing Arts (MAPA) Center. Read the LAVC Master Plan Update and EIR Addendum [PDF: 3.2MB].

February 22, 2011 – Valley College recently held two Town Hall meetings for faculty, staff and students to share updated information about the college’s construction plans, and the anticipated impact to the campus in the coming years. Steinberg Architects, LAVC’s facilities master architects, presented a series of diagrams that illustrate the anticipated sequence of major construction activity at the college over the next four years. Download the LAVC Bond Construction Sequencing Presentation [PDF: 3.3MB].

November 15, 2010 – Students, faculty, staff and LACCD officials recently marked the opening of its new $20.4 million Student Services Complex With an dedication event and open house. The 70,000 gross-square-foot complex is made up of two buildings — a two-story Student Services Center (SSC) and a one-story Student Services Annex (SSA) — and combines all the Student Services functions into one area of the campus.

The complex is home to the college’s Associated Student Union, International Student Services Office, Veterans Student Services, Outreach & Recruitment Office, the Assessment Center, Services for Students with Disabilities (formerly Disabled Students Programs and Services), Extended Opportunity Program and Services Office, TRiO/Student Services Office, Upward Bound Office and the Student Services administrative offices. It is located close to the corner of Burbank Boulevard and Fulton Avenue, which makes it easily accessible to students and visitors from the campus’ stop on the Los Angeles Metro Orange Line, and to Parking Lot A.

The complex was designed to meet LEED sustainability standards and includes the following "green" features: a cool roof that reduces heat, CO2 monitoring, low-emission construction and building materials that reduce impacts to air quality, optimized energy performance, processes and materials that will reduce water usage by 20 percent, and use of some recycled and locally manufactured building materials. In addition, nearly 75 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills during the building process.

January 26, 2010 - A Bond Performance Audit was presented to the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD)'s Board of Trustees on January 26, 2011. The report was an independence performance audit for the period July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010 (FY 2010), for the LACCD’s 2001 Proposition A, 2003 Proposition AA and 2008 Measure J construction bonds (Bond Program).

Read the LACCD Bond Performance Audit Report [PDF: 707KB].

December 15, 2009 – Faculty and students from LAVC recently joined representatives from the Los Angeles Community College District and the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles in celebrating the lives of Belle and Harry Krupnick – and dedicating the college’s Media Arts Center in their name. The Belle & Harry Krupnick Media Arts Center gives students state-of-the-art practical experience in such production areas as camera, lighting, editing, visual effects and scripting. It is named after Belle and Harry Krupnick, who donated $500,000 to the Los Angeles Valley College Foundation to help to establish a media arts program endowment.

The 1,539-square-foot building houses a soundstage with green screen capabilities and high definition production equipment. The facility also has control, audio and editing rooms. The TV studio was part of a $2.8 million construction project with Theater Arts that included $1.3 million in construction costs and $600,000 in equipment costs.

Harry Krupnick first took classes at Los Angeles Valley College in 1974 and his association with the college grew when he and his wife, Belle, became early members of the Los Angeles Valley College Foundation. Over the years, they supported scholarships and various campus programs. After Belle’s death in 1999, Harry proposed a $500,000 gift for a new media arts facility at the college. After Harry’s death, also in 1999, the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles became executor of Krupnick’s gift.

November 18, 2009 – Los Angeles Valley College students and staff joined representatives from the Los Angeles Community College District and distinguished guests as they celebrated two milestones in the college’s ongoing modernization program. The day kicked off with a groundbreaking for the 93,000-square-foot Library and Academic Resource Center, and continued with a dedication ceremony for the college’s Aquatics Center, which includes an Olympic-sized competition pool, a six-lane training pool and a warm-up pool, and a 5,000-square-foot Adapted Physical Education Center for use as part of Valley College’s Disabled Student Services Program.

The new two-story library will be one of the largest in the San Fernando Valley, playing host to more than 130,000 books and subscribing to more than 350 magazines and newspapers. It will also feature an Academic Resources Center, Media Services, a Professional Media Resource Center as well as the Los Angeles Valley College Historical Museum. The library – which was designed by Pfeiffer Partner Architects and is being built by Diffenbaugh, Inc. – will feature sustainable materials and attributes, such as a heat-reducing roof and solar panels.

The new pool complex is the latest in an overall renovation of the college’s 37,963-square-foot North Gymnasium and 42,500-square-foot South Gymnasiums. This project included upgrades and improvements in building safety, accessibility, amenities and sustainable features.

A signature component of the renovation is the new Adapted Physical Education Center, which has aerobic and weight training machines designed to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities, such as wheelchair accessibility. The new center, in conjunction with the adjacent pool complex, allows Valley College to provide a complete training and rehabilitation program for students and the community.

Construction on the Library and Resource Center is expected to be completed in 2011.

April 23, 2009 – More than 100 people watched on as ground was officially broken on the $13.6-million Student Services Center at Los Angeles Valley College. School staff, Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) officials, students and campus neighbors were on hand to kick off the two-building project, which will provide a one-stop center for student services.

Steinberg Architects designed the 37,000-square-foot complex and it is being built by J.D. Diffenbaugh, Inc. The single-story and two-story structures will help to modernize Valley College and are funded by the LACCD's $5.7-billion Sustainable Building Program. The Center will also house the Associated Student Union, International Student Services Office, Disabled Student Programs and Services Office, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services Office, Veterans Program and the Student Services administrative offices.

The new Student Services Center will have a "cool roof" to reduce heat, improved air quality, use energy more efficiently and cut water usage. Nearly 75 percent of construction waste will be diverted from landfills, and builders are using some recycled and locally manufactured products. In addition, the complex is easy to reach from the Valley College stop on the L.A. Metro Orange Line.

Construction is expected to be completed in Fall 2010.

March 4, 2009 – College officials and students gathered in the front of the college's main entrance to dedicate the recently renovated Monarch Square and Fulton Avenue Entrance. The ceremony was capped off with a performance of the Star Spangled Banner as a flag was raised on the new flag pole near the Administration Building.

August 8, 2008 – Dozens of kids wearing yellow construction hats gathered at Los Angeles Valley College on Thursday, August 7 to cheer on College and Los Angeles Community College District officials as they broke ground on the College's new $11.2 million "green" Child Development and Family Complex. The 26,000 sq. ft. three-structure complex is the first and only in the District that will house three child development-related divisions under one roof. For Valley, the College will have a new Child Development Center (CDC), Child Development Department (CDD) and Family Resource Center (FRC).

The complex's new FRC will focus on training early childhood workers and provide family support services for students, staff, faculty and community families with young children. The building was also made possible thanks to a generous donation by J.H. Snyder and through an agreement with the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA-LA).

While the CDC and CDD will house distinct functions, they have a strong commonality in the development of young children. This working synergy is reflected in the physical site layout of the site with each having its own separate entrance and facilities but together forming a protected courtyard for the children.

The new state-of-the-art Child Development Center will serve approximately 192 children from newborn to school age. When the College's Child Development Center opened in back in 1945 it started with 30 children.

The project is scheduled to be completed in 2010.

L.A. Valley College received a $1.5 million donation from the J.H. Synder Corporations to build a new Family Resource Center as part of its new $11.2 million Family & Child Complex.

This new one-story building will be used to train the early childhood workforce and will provide community families with programs for young children. The 2000-square-foot building will be located adjacent to the new Child Development classrooms and offices and the new Child Development Center.

As part of the LAVC site improvement master plan, which includes landscaping, trees, signage and lighting, arborist Michael Mahoney has completed a full assessment of the 1834 trees on campus and has categorized each by type, health, and maintenance requirements

The urban forest specialist has compiled a database that will be used to make decisions about managing the campus forest and protecting trees during construction, and it also will be a valuable asset to botany students, scientists, and the general community. "The campus has a fabulous species dynamic," Mahoney said, "with 83 different kinds of mostly mature trees."

Valley College has 199 American Sweet Gum trees that comprise 11 percent of the campus forest. There are 192 Canary Island Pines, 192 Italian Cypress, and 112 magnolia trees in addition to pine, Chinese elms, ficus, olive, oak and Carob trees. Perhaps the rarest is a China tree, often called a "happy tree," which is alleged to have curative properties for treating cancer. "Valley College's campus tree environment is a vital community," Mahoney said, "and we need to foster its care." The results of his study will be used to find ways to develop a long-term maintenance plan for the campus forest during construction.

Arborist and urban forest specialist Michael Mahoney taps and pokes a tree trunk to determine if it has decay, loose bark, fungus, or insects.