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The Valencia campus of College of the Canyons has seen tremendous growth and expansion over
the past decade, with new construction dotting the landscape on an almost continual basis.
The Performing Arts Center, the University Center, East PE and the Mentry Hall and TLC
expansions are just a few of the projects that have sprung to life in recent years,
and this year is no different, as the campus has not one, but two separate construction
projects under way.
Near the center of campus, Work on the new Student Services and Administration building
began in the Spring of 2013, with the steel framework beginning to take shape just in
the past month. With an estimated completion date at the end of Fall 2014, the new 2-story,
46,000 square foot facility will house Admissions & Records, counseling, financial aid and Transfer
and Career Centers, as well as the college's Student Services, Instruction, and Public
Information Offices. The new building should serve as a one-stop shop for student success
and support.
Simultaneously, near the campus' southern end, ground has been broken and construction
will begin shortly on the Institute for Culinary Education, the permanent home for College
of the Canyons' culinary arts program. To clear the way, the modular, which had made
up the college's Village, had to be removed first.
When completed, The $8-million iCuE facility will house a "Show Kitchen," a "Savory Kitchen,"
a "Sweets Kitchen," an area for "Wine Studies," a "Culinary Lab space" and instructor office
spaces.
"We're here today, breaking ground, because of team work. We've accomplished our goal
because we've had the help of passionate, supportive friends, who believe in the power
of education, talented faculty, and an amazingly supportive Foundation."
The program will offer both an associates degree and certificate programs at tuition
costs significantly less than private culinary schools.
"This building will be life changing. It will be life changing for me to work in this beautiful
building with five kitchens and a wine studies room, students that are fabulous and a fabulous
team."
Handling the delicate balancing act of managing two active construction sites falls to Jim
Schrage, VP of Facilities Planning, Operations and Construction, and his team.
"The biggest headache is managing keeping the campus operational, during the time. Because
there's so much lay down space, so much activity, right in the center of the student population.
That's the number 1 concern. The rest is...the rest is we have really good construction management,
a really good team, so I don't worry much about that. Just keeping the campus operational."
Completion of these two projects most likely signals an end to construction on the Valencia
campus, as the district will look towards the Canyon Country campus for future growth
opportunities.