Long Beach City College Begins Green Renovations to Address STEM Studies

LONG BEACH, Calif. — On Sept. 12, Long Beach City College (LBCC) began renovations to its Science Building D in order to provide more modern facilities for students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. The $14 million renovation will add new, enhanced classrooms and increase capacity at the college, according to a statement from LBCC.

San Diego, Calif.-based T.B. Penick & Sons Inc. is serving as the general contractor, while Long Beach-based Architects MSP is serving as the architect on the renovation. The renovation will feature several green building design strategies, including those aimed at reducing water and energy usage, according to a statement.

“This renovation will revitalize our science programs with state-of-the-art facilities and technology to better prepare students for 21st century challenges in critical STEM fields,” said LBCC Superintendent-President Eloy Ortiz Oakley in a statement. “It will also increase capacity and allow more students to enroll in science courses.”

The building project is funded through the Measure E Bond, which allocates a total $14.17 million toward renovations, according to the Long Beach Post. Measure E bonds have provided $440 million in new construction, repairs and renovations for LBCC’s liberal arts and Pacific Coast campuses. The bonds were approved in 2002 and 2008 for construction and modernization. The college is in its 11th year of the $616 million modernization process, according to Gazettes. The Los Angeles office of Cordoba Corporation manages all LBCC Measure E projects.

Renovations at LBCC’s Science Building D include:

• First and second floor renovations of 17,512 square feet with new classrooms and lab areas, and paint and cosmetic updates for existing offices

• The addition of a second microbiology classroom on the second floor that will double current capacity

• New data cables throughout the entire building and audio/visual upgrades

• Upgrades to all student and staff restrooms with water-conserving, low-flow fixtures

• Energy-efficient replacements for two rooftop HVAC units and an exhaust fan

The project is expected to take 18 months to complete.