Tacoma Community College will host an open house for its new Information Technology Building and celebrate the groundbreaking for its new Science Building from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 31 on the colleges main campus.
The IT Building is a 56,000 square-foot, three-story building that houses classrooms, lab spaces and an Information Commons (open computer lab). Within the IT Building, electronics/wireless telecommunications engineering students and IT students can work with state-of-the-art industry equipment; business students can work in a simulation lab designed to support and extend experiential learning; and office professional technologies students can work in contemporary classrooms and labs.
The building has enabled consolidation of TCCs IT instruction, including the relocation of the Information Technology Certification and Testing Center (ITCC) from the Tacoma Mall to main campus. TCCs self-paced business lab is also located in the new building.
The Information Commons provides 85 computer work stations for student use. Access to technology resources is critical to college students success, said Dan Small, director of external relations. Many TCC students do not have home computers and must rely on the computers available on campus. With the addition of the Information Commons, TCC now has more computers available to meet student needs.
The state legislature approved $14.5 million in construction funding for the building in the 2003-2005 biennium, and $1.2 million in design funding in the 2001-2003 biennium.
Washington state provided a $500,000 matching grant to construct the Information Commons. Local matching funds were received from the Harold R. and Jessie B. Flowers Endowment Fund, the Frances C. Heidner Fund, the Forest Foundation, Grantmaker Consultants Inc., the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, the Ben B. Cheney Foundation, the Associated Students of Tacoma Community College and the TCC Foundation. Sen. Maria Cantwell, Sen. Patty Murray, Congressman Norm Dicks and Congressman Adam Smith were instrumental in helping to secure a $450,000 federal appropriation for equipment and infrastructure in the Information Commons.
The IT Building was designed by Callison Architecture Inc. and constructed by Swinerton Builders. Ground was broken in fall 2003; the building was completed in spring 2005.
The new Science Building will feature a fossil wall; a reptile display area; two large aquariums; monitoring equipment connected to the building structure so forces such as stress, temperature and electrical load can be measured; and glass panes to allow viewing of work going on in labs. The building will add to the learning environment in the community and visitors of all ages will be able to enjoy its characteristics, Small said.
The approximately 77,200 square-foot, four-story building will house classrooms, laboratory spaces, a greenhouse, faculty offices and designated spaces for student interaction and study. The state legislature approved $29.5 million in construction funding in the 2005-2007 biennium and $2.4 million in design funding in the 2003-2005 biennium.
The building will be located west of the IT Building on the south end of TCCs main campus. It was designed by The Miller Hull Partnership. Soltek Pacific is the contractor. Design began in fall 2003, and the project is expected to be completed in summer 2007.
Both of these buildings will better support current teaching technology, accommodate the student population and help the college replace buildings that have come to the end of their useful lives, according to TCC capital projects managers. In addition, they will help define the campus edge and improve the emphasis for the south pedestrian entrance.
The Aug. 31 celebration will consist of a brief program followed by light refreshments and guided tours of the IT Building. For more information, call (253) 566-5099. TCCs main campus is located at 6501 S. 19th St., Tacoma.
