REDWOOD CITY, CA—Placing science education at the forefront of the Cañada College campus will ensure students' success in the 21st century workforce, say designers of a new math, science and technology classroom and lab building. Construction of the three-story facility is tentatively scheduled to begin in spring 2018.

The new building will feature flexible classrooms, labs and faculty offices, and will provide a modern learning facility for science education. HGA Architects and Engineers, along with contractor McCarthy Building Companies Inc., have been awarded contracts as design-build leads for the 50,000-square-foot project.

“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 on behalf of HGA. “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.”

Supporting the philosophy that learning happens everywhere, the design will include an indoor/outdoor “learning commons.” An enhanced plaza adjacent to the building will create a functional and attractive outdoor gathering space, drawing students to this new area of the north campus.

“Today, community colleges serve multiple purposes. Not only are they the center of community outreach and activities, but these institutions are the gateway to four-year universities for many students and are also responsible for directly launching students into the workforce,” Amirdelfan tells GlobeSt.com. “As these institutions are responsible for training the next generation, college programs and facilities must be planned and designed to pedagogically align with the technologies of both today's and future workplaces, particularly for STEM education.”

The building will be designed to achieve LEED Gold certification and be Net Zero Energy-ready–meaning the total amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is equal to or less than the amount of renewable energy created on the site. Additionally, the project will participate in the PG&E Savings by Design Program, which provides services to help meet and exceed 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. “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.”

In addition to Amirdelfan, the HGA project team includes Samara Lull, project manager; David Lang, project designer; Peter Kimelman, project architect, and Tiffany Coyne, project coordinator.

“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. “The sustainability features that will be incorporated will support the academic success of the students and ensure the longevity of the facility.”

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Updated Facilities Essential for Students' Long-Term Success

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