Bernards Reaps Benefits of Educational Development

LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles-based builder Bernards has been hired to construct two buildings on community college campuses in the Inland Empire. The developments have a total cost of $36.7 million and are located at Riverside City College and Crafton Hills College.

“Both of these projects are important additions to our already robust resume for Southern California Community Colleges, but we are really excited about the prominent role that these projects will play on each of their respective campuses,” Rick Fochtman, VP of Bernards, tells GlobeSt.com. “The projects at Crafton Hills and Riverside Community Colleges are Student Services and Administration buildings and will serve as the gateway and central hub for students faculty and staff alike.  They are active and dynamic facilities that can really set the pace for the students' college experience.  Collaborating with the several different campus departments and College Leadership to build a beautiful and perfectly functioning facility is a rewarding experience.”     

Located at 4800 Magnolia Ave., the Riverside City College project is a two-story 44,000-square-foot student services center and administration building designed by HMC Architects. It will feature a steel frame and will be located at the front of the campus. This project will cost approximately $14.9 million, and is expected to open in May 2016.

Located at 11711 Sand Canyon Road in Yucaipa, the Crafton Hills College project is a two-story, 46,500-square-foot building that will serve as the center of the college, housing administration, a health center, bookstore and food services. It will be LEED certified and include an outdoor patio. This project has a total cost of $21.8 million, and will be completed by fall 2015. Like the Riverside City College project, this is also designed by HMC Architects.

“When the recession hit the Inland Empire, Community Colleges were one of the first institutions to respond,” says Fochtman. “They quickly re-tooled their programs and offerings to offer hope and re-training to the thousands of local residents who found themselves out of a job.  Their response was so effective, enrollment at our local community colleges swelled to all-time highs.  As a result, many local campuses have invested in modernization and expansion of their facilities.  Bernards is proud to partner with our local colleges to help improve their campuses and the greater communities that they serve.”

Bernards has several projects underway throughout Southern California, including the Harvey Mudd College and the Edward Wenzlaff Elementary School Renovation for Palm Springs Unified School District, both in the Inland Empire. The surge in educational development underlines the improving Inland Empire economy, which according to a recent Metro Study report is up 14% year-over-year, with 3% job growth. Bernards did not provide further comment about the projects prior to the publication of this story.