CHAPARRAL

Hallelujah! We’ve Got Buildings
by Andrew Young, Mathematics Division

After what seemed like forever, two major campus construction projects are now both near completion.

     Two of the three floors of the Bhupesh Parikh Health Sciences & Technology (HS) building are now occupied.  Some EMT and Nursing classes were offered in classrooms on the third floor during the second summer session.  Digital Arts classes have been meeting in first floor classrooms this fall.

     Despite delays due to the late adoption of the state budget, necessary funds for equipment and furnishings have now been released, and the remainder of the building is expected to be fully occupied by the end of October.  

	Nursing instructor Michelle Ramirez demonstrates the new vital signs monitor (inset).

    The new central plant at the south end of the building provides air conditioning to HS and eventually will cool several nearby buildings as well.

Enough Parking for everyone

     The parking problems that have plagued the college for years were finally relieved when the parking structure opened at the start of the fall semester.  This was the result of exceptional effort, coordination, and cooperation by all parties involved, including the college staff, project contractors and the city of Glendale. All levels of the new parking structure are now available for use by faculty, staff and students. The structure contains about 1150 parking spaces, a net increase of about 800 spaces.

There are four significant components of this project which are yet to be completed: the new entrance/exit at Mountain Street, the installation of solar panels above the structure, the elevators interior to the parking structure itself, and the Elevator Tower to the lower campus.

Solar panels will be installed above the parking structure.

Solar Power is on the way

     The metal superstructure that will support the solar panels above the parking structure are complete, but the state has not yet approved the installation of the solar panels themselves.  It is not entirely clear when the necessary approvals will be granted, but when they are, the installation of the solar panels will require a temporary closure of the top levels of the structure during the installation process.

     Interior elevators and the elevator tower that will carry people between the parking structure and the main campus should be completed soon.

The elevator tower is scheduled to open in December.

     When all facets of the parking structure project are complete, the portions of Lot A which are still being used as construction zones will be made available for faculty and staff parking.

Verdugo Gym gets air

     On another front, during the summer an air conditioning system was installed in the Verdugo Gym.  This project was completed in mid-August and has greatly improved the comfort level for athletes exercising in this facility.  The new system also provides heating, which has not been available in the main gym area for many years. This will make the facility comfortable for athletes and visitors year-round. &

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