​Voter-Approved Measure E Makes New College Facilities a Reality

(Orange) - Santiago Canyon College (SCC) invites the community to the dedication of its new 72,200-square-foot Athletics and Aquatics Complex and a celebration of the college’s new 97,500-square-foot Humanities Building.  The event is slated for Monday, April 29, at 3:00 p.m. in Lot 7, adjacent to the Athletic/Aquatics Complex and the Humanities Building.

The Athletics and Aquatics Complex officially opened to students and the community in January 2013. The facility was designed by Irvine-based The Austin Company and features a gymnasium, a competitive pool, a fitness center, locker rooms, strength lab, training facilities, and faculty offices. Community residents can utilize the fitness center if they are registered for a circuit training or cardiovascular conditioning class through the college. The complex is also available for use by community athletic groups through a rental agreement.

“A number of community groups have already utilized the gymnasium for tournaments and the pool for training,” said Juan Vázquez, SCC president. “We are grateful to the community who approved Measure E in 2002 making it possible for our students to have access to a gymnasium and such fine athletics facilities.”

The three-story Humanities Building will house the college’s English, Humanities, Modern Languages, Social Science departments, as well as the Writing Center and Honors Program. The building includes 37 classrooms and a 290-seat auditorium and has several unique features. Since some SCC instructors occasionally like to teach outside, one of the its courtyards features two open-air classrooms, meandering Zen-like pathways, and reflective spaces. Faculty offices are distributed throughout the facility in pods of three or four offices with a waiting area for students at the pod’s hub.

Designed by California-based architecture firm, LPA, Inc., the facility has been planned with energy efficiency in mind. Its sustainable design has earned the building Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Energy efficient elements include water efficient landscaping and plumbing fixtures, highly efficient HVAC units, and daylighting. In addition, photovoltaic panels will cover a good portion of the building’s roof and provide 19 percent of the energy needed for day-to-day operations.

“Our new Humanities Building provides mediated classrooms to meet current and emerging instructional needs,” said Vázquez. “At present, the disciplines that will be housed in this facility are spread out across our campus. By bringing them all together under one roof; it will encourage greater collaboration among faculty members and improved communication with students.”

The dedication and celebration includes refreshments, entertainment by the SCC choir, and tours of the Athletics and Aquatics Complex. Speakers will include Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees President Arianna P. Barrios, Rancho Santiago Community College District Chancellor Raúl Rodríguez, Ph.D., SCC President Juan Vázquez, SCC Women’s Soccer Team member Kristen Blogg, SCC English Professor Elizabeth Elchlepp, SCC Exercise Science Assistant Professor and Women’s Soccer Coach Ian Woodhead, SCC Classified Hawks representative Brenda Hohnstein, and SCC Associated Student Government President Rachel Bulosan.

The Humanities Building will cost $32.9 million to complete and the Athletics and Aquatics Complex cost $20.05 million. Both facilities were made possible through the Measure E bond. Measure E, a $337 million general obligation bond, was approved by voters in 2002 to renovate existing campus buildings and construct new classrooms facilities at Santa Ana College, Santiago Canyon College, community education centers and the district operations center of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.

The college is located at 8045 E. Chapman Ave. in Orange. Guests may use the Chapman Ave. entrance and follow the signs to free event parking. For a map and directions, visit www.sccollege.edu. For additional event information, please call (714) 628-4930.

About Santiago Canyon College
Santiago Canyon College is a public community college of Rancho Santiago Community College District, serving the residents of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Tustin and Villa Park. The college provides education for academic transfer and careers, courses for personal and professional development, and customized training for business and industry.