Major Construction Underway at Junior Colleges

Not to be outdone by neighboring UC Merced, the Merced Community College District has embarked on an expansion project that includes an entirely new campus in neighboring Los Banos.

By Robert Carlsen

After completing the $10.2-million Interdisciplinary Academic Center in late 2004 at its Merced campus, the Merced Community College District has embarked on a renewed building and remodeling spree that includes the construction of a brand new campus in Los Banos, a growing community located about 40 miles west of Merced.

Sacramento-based Lionakis Beaumont Design Group is the architect for two new projects, including a new library, on the Merced CC campus as well as the first buildings at the Los Banos campus (rendering courtesy of LBDG).

Parsons Brinckerhoff's Sacramento office is handling the construction management duties on two of the new projects, including a new library building on the Merced CC campus as well as the first buildings at the Los Banos campus. Sacramento-based Lionakis Beaumont Design Group is the architect on both projects.

Sheila Flores, the district's facilities planning and development specialist, said the district also recently completed a $3- million North Loop interior road at the district's main Merced campus, and it is in the preliminary plans and working drawings phase of a $5.3-million remodel of the vacated library to provide a "one-stop" student services center known as the Lesher Building.

Flores said two other projects are in the queue for state funding: a $7.9-million allied health center and $14.7-million agriculture and industrial technology complex as well as an administration building, vocational building, and student services building remodels.

"Growth in the Merced area has afforded the community college district a great opportunity to update and renovate its facilities," said Dave Younger, principal at Lionakis Beaumont, which last year won an AIA-Sierra Valley chapter Design Excellence Award for its design of the Bill and Dorothy Bizzini Interdisciplinary Academic Center.

The Learning Resources Center (or library) project began in October. The 52,360-sq.-ft. building will cost $18.8 million and be the largest structure on campus. The project should be completed this fall.

The LRC will house the campus library, audio-visual services and technology resource center. The first floor will include group and individual student study spaces, video/internet/computer stations and a reference collection area. The second floor will include books and periodicals, open study areas, meeting rooms and additional group study rooms.

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"The design and construction of the Learning Resource Center is the single most ambitious project that the college has ever undertaken," said Dr. Benjamin Duran, superintendent and president of the district.

Flores said yet another project, the $13- million science building, is expected to begin by the end of the year. "We have experienced some difficulty bidding this project, but we are revising the project, with no scope changes, to reduce the second floor load requirements, thereby reducing the seismic cost of the project," she said.

Meanwhile, the current Los Banos campus consists of portable facilities that are not adequate for the growing community, Flores said. In 2000, the population of Los Banos was roughly 26,000, and in five years has grown to 32,000.

The new 120-acre campus will cost $24 million and the first phase should be completed by spring 2007. The campus master plan, once fully realized, will include 18 buildings and approximately 550,000 sq. ft. of space.

Stonecreek Properties, a division of Fresno-based Anderson Homes, which is building two major housing developments in the area, donated the land for the Los Banos campus.

The first 20 acres will be developed in the first phase of construction, which includes a new administration building and a new academic and vocational building. This project will replace the college's existing facilities, and provide additional classrooms, offices, and laboratories to accommodate enrollment growth.

Chuck Hack, business development manager for Lionakis Beaumont, said the campus plan will include a public plaza, bordered by the covered walkways of each building.

The 20,000-sq-ft. administration building will become the hub of campus activity, housing the main administrative offices, a counseling center, computer labs, specialty labs, classrooms, library, and student and staff lounge.

Hack said the design of the classrooms will allow for maximum flexibility; partition walls can be easily opened to create a large, multipurpose room, suitable for both collegiate and community events.

Despite a very tight budget, the quality of the learning environment has not been compromised, Hack added. Classrooms will typically have 11-ft. ceilings, with access to natural light and views. Indirect light fixtures will be used to prevent glare.

There will also be smart podiums, built-in multimedia projectors, and data outlets throughout the facility.

A distinct laboratory wing will house a chemistry lab, life sciences lab, multi-science lab, art lab, and shared prep lab. The science laboratories will include fume hoods, demonstration tables and student stations furnished with water, gas and compressed air.

Flores said the campus was designed to have a minimal impact on the environment. All stormwater will be captured onsite and diverted to man-made retention ponds, allowing it to percolate into the soil. Parking lots and pedestrian pathways will be provided with ample tree shade.

Sustainable, green features highlight the interiors, including 100 percent recyclable carpets made without VOCs, linoleum floors that reduce maintenance and life-cycle costs, and natural wall coverings made without vinyl or VOCs.

Plumbing fixtures will also be low-flow, where possible, and both lighting fixtures and HVAC systems will be energy efficient.