Master Planning Updates

9/1/06: Master Planning Update #9

Master Planning Updates #1-8

If you have not had the opportunity, please read Master Planning Updates #1 (June 17, 2003), #2 (August 29, 2003), #3 (October 16, 2003), #4 (July 27, 2005), #5 (January 30, 2006), #6 (March 13, 2006), #7 (April 24, 2006), and #8 (July 6, 2006). These updates are archived on this web site.

Quick Master Planning Summary

For those with limited time, the following is a quick, USA Today style update on Master Planning projects (the links provide shortcuts to the respective sections in the report below):

• The Student Union project remains on time and on budget. Phases I (NW corner) and II (Kitchen and Serving Area) were completed August 14, 2006 and are now open to the campus. Phase III, the remodel of the old Student Lounge and Atrium, is scheduled for completion by mid October.
• GCC North planning continues. The GCC North Planning Team completed a review of Schematic Design documents and adjustments to bring the project into budget. RNL Design is now proceeding with the drawing of Design Development documents (second, more detailed set of plans). These documents are scheduled to be completed in ten weeks (mid October). Construction is still planned to begin in December 2006-January 2007.
• Life Science Building. The consultants, Gould Evans and DPR, met with the Life Science Planning Team on August 24 to review three building design schemes. An information session with the three departments will be scheduled to select one scheme from which Schematic Design documents (first set of plans) will be developed. Schematic Design documents are expected to be available for review in November 2006.
• Entrances at Vogel and Via Gaucho. The first phase of this project is complete. Phase I focused on the Vogel entrance, adding dedicated left and right turn lanes, sidewalks and ADA compliant ramps. Parking behind the Performing Arts Center was eliminated, replaced by a small loading zone. Phase II of this project will include straightening the Via Gaucho and 59th Avenue entrance, and increasing the curve radius on the entrance at 61st and Olive Avenues. This phase of the project will be completed in October and not impact the flow of traffic to and from campus.
• Coming Attractions. In Master Planning Update #10 look for information on:
  • The Geology and Hydrology of GCC North
  • What's a Topping Off Ceremony?
  • More on Phase III of the Student Union Remodel
  • Life Science Bldg. – L-shaped, Courtyard or Three-Story?

For additional information on GCC projects, please read on.

Student Union Remodel

Construction is now 50 percent complete! Jokake Construction Company has officially completed Phases I and II of this project. If you have visited the Student Union in recent days, you will have experienced a modernized, colorful and efficient Servery, new tile floors, an eye catching game room and new offices for Student Government and clubs. Plans for future phases have been pasted on the temporary walls at the old north entrance, serving to inform the college and to invite comments. Kudos to Dean Donna White, the Student Life staff, students and our consultants (ART) who helped design these areas. And a special thanks to Jokake Construction, whose employees have maintained project pace in spite of numerous roof challenges and the recent Arizona monsoons. Remodel activities will continue with conversion of the Atrium, old Student Lounge and Council Chambers (Phase III –estimated completion date mid October 2006)) and old Dining Area and Employee Lounge (Phase IV - November 2006 - March 2007). Plans for configurable meeting rooms, for the integration of natural light, connecting inside and outside space, and linking the diverse architectural styles of the campus have been addressed. A small scale schematic of the Student Union remodel plans along with a timeline and description of work to be accomplished can be viewed at:

• Open Student Union Remodel Description (Word format)
• Open Student Union Floor Plan Graphic (PowerPoint format)

Click on the center of each of the two images of recent construction scenes below to view their planned transformations...

Student Union - New Cyber Café and Dining Area
From the old front entrance to SU, facing southeast toward the former Student Lounge and Atrium.

Student Union - East Side Entrance
From the central mall, facing roughly west toward SU.

Several large scale renditions of the remodeled Student Union are on display in the lobby of the Administration Building. One interesting component of Phase III is the conversion of the old Atrium into a covered dining area. Topping the atrium will be a translucent pyramidal cover, a Kalwall system designed to span large openings. Kalwall is the most highly insulating, diffuse light-transmitting, structural composite sandwich panel technology in the world. And, GCC's cover will be the largest installed by Kalwall to date in Arizona, 3,000 square feet. For more information about this product, please click on the following link: http://www.kalwall.com/standard.htm

See our Student Union Construction Gallery for more views of the new SU in progress!

GCC North Campus

The final Master Plan for the GCC North site was approved by the Capital Development Advisory Committee on June 27, 2006. Several copies of the Master Plan are available in the Library and an electronic copy will be made available on-line from this web site. Below is a schematic from the Master Plan showing the proposed construction to be completed by 2044. Those buildings in the northeast part of the site (upper right) and identified with letters (a-f), are to be constructed as part of phase one (completion 2008) and will support the College until the next bond cycle (typically every ten years). Moving counterclockwise around the site, phase two is in the northwest quadrant (2014-2024), phase three in the southwest quadrant (2024-2034), and phase four in the southeast quadrant (2034-2044).

Proposed Build-out of GCC North 2006-2014

Open larger version of GCCN Proposal

Schematic Design Plans and a project budget for Phase I were finalized on August 15, 2006 and the architects given permission to develop the second set of more detailed plans (Design Development documents). These plans are scheduled to be ready for review in approximately ten weeks (October 20, 2006). The final site will still include three new buildings: Instruction (Classrooms/Labs/Offices), Information (Library/Media/Computer Commons), and Student Services (Business Services/Student Life/Cafeteria/Fitness Center), plus a Central Plant. The project will add 65,000 square feet to the existing 20,000 sf site. Buildings are designed to support future programmatic growth and the Central Plant capable of up-scaling to support the future three phases of construction (2014-2044).

Life Science Building

On August 3, 2006, the Life Science Planning Team met with Gould Evans (Architect Consultant) and DPR (Construction Manager) to review six building design schemes for this project. Schemes reviewed included one single-story, four two-story configurations and one three-story configuration. After careful analysis, the planning team selected three schemes for further exploration. On August 24, 2006, the planning team reviewed the three schemes: L-shaped design (open to the SW), Quad/Courtyard design (U-shaped and open to the W), and three-story design. Interestingly, the three-story scheme places the science labs and prep room on the third floor. Though the planning team identified a preferred scheme, a presentation will now be made to the tri-department faculty and interested campus employees to inform and seek broader input. Following this presentation, a scheme will be recommended to the College and the consultants directed to develop Schematic Design documents. Please look for an upcoming announcement regarding this Life Science Bldg. meeting. Construction is expected to begin in July 2007 and the building prepared for instruction at the beginning of the Spring semester 2009.

Miscellaneous Projects

Entrances at Vogel and Via Gaucho

As GCC continues to grow, efficient access must be addressed. Working with the City of Glendale as it widens 59th Avenue, GCC has initiated work to widen the Vogel Avenue entrance, add dedicated right and left turn lanes, and to straighten Via Gaucho. College plans will complement the addition of medians, sidewalk extensions and improved landscaping along 59th Avenue. Both the City and College will use the same engineering firm (Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.), ensuring a seamless connection between the projects. Preliminary survey work along 59th Avenue began in March. In June, the College/District selected Visus Engineering Construction, Inc. to construct the new entrances. The first phase of this project, the Vogel Avenue entrance, was completed on August 13, in time for the return of faculty and students. Future phases will straighten the Via Gaucho entrance and increase the curve radius on the entrance at 62nd and Olive Avenues. The entire project is scheduled for completion in October 2006. The City of Glendale will widen the west side of 59th Avenue during the Summer of 2007.

See our Vogel Entrance Project Gallery for more views of entrance improvements in progress!

Parking

In response to projected enrollment growth and future construction activities in the north part of the GCC Main campus, the College added 605 additional parking spaces in the NE corner of the campus. Security lighting has been installed and cameras will be installed later this week.

Land Purchase Update

As part of the 2004 Capital Bond, MCCCD will purchase several parcels of land to accommodate explosive growth in Maricopa County. GCC is working with District officials and Arizona Land Advisors to conclude a purchase of a 90 acre site in the Northwest Valley, just north of 203rd and Grand Avenues.

Glendale Community College Bond Projects Schedule 2004-2014

In order to help employees and community members track progress of GCC Main and North projects, the following is an abbreviated timeline of actions associated with each project. Details of three projects in progress: Student Union Remodel, new Life Science Bldg., and expansion of the GCC North campus are discussed further in this document.

Project	Ed Specs Development	Consultant Selection	Design and Construction Documents Development	Construction Begins (estimate)	Substantial Completion (estimate)	Punch List - Occupy
SU*	Jan – Mar 2005	ART Jul 2005 Jokake Sep 2005	Aug 2005 – Feb 2006	Apr 2006	Mar 2007	Mar – Jun 2007
Life Science Bldg. (formerly N Bldg.)*	Apr 2005 – Feb 2006	Gould Evans May 2006 DPR May 2005	Sep 2006 – May 2007	Aug 2007	Oct 2008	Nov – Dec 2008
NW Bldg.	Mar – Jun 2007	Jul – Aug 2007	Sep 2007 – May 2008	Jun 2008	Aug 2009	Sep – Dec 2009
B Bldg.	Jul – Sep 2007	Oct – Nov 2007	Nov 2007 – Jun 2008	Jul 2008	May 2009	Jun-Aug 2009
T1 Bldg.	Jul – Sep 2008	Oct – Nov 2008	Dec 2008 – Jul 2009	Aug 2009	Aug 2010	Sep – Dec 2010
T3 Auto (some T2)	Jul – Sep 2009	Oct – Nov 2009	Dec 2009 – Jul 2010	Aug 2010	Aug 2011	Sep – Dec 2011
Old LS/NU Bldg.	Dec 2011 – Feb 2011	Mar – Apr 2011	May – Nov 2011	Dec 2011	Oct 2012	Nov 2012
F&W Bldg.	Sep – Dec 2010	Jan – Feb 2011	Mar – Nov 2011	Dec 2011	Feb 2013	Mar – Jun 2013
Vogel Via Gaucho Entrances*	Aug – Sep 2005	Oct – Nov 2005	Dec 2005 – Feb 2006	Mar 2006	Oct 2006	N/A
Chiller Plant Upgrades 1	Nov 2006 – Jan 2007	Feb – Mar 2007	Apr – Aug 2007	Sep 2007	Jan 2008	Feb 2008
GCC North*	Mar – Sep 2005	RNL Design Jan 2006 CORE Feb 2006	Jan – Nov 2006	Dec 2006	Mar 2008	Apr – Jul 2008

1 Upgrade of the Chiller Plant is a District project designed to prepare the campus infrastructure to support new buildings.

Planning is currently underway for several projects (highlighted in light green ), and each is discussed further in this document.

Questions - Comments

Your input and questions concerning any of the College's bond projects is always welcome. If you have questions or ideas, please share them with the College. You can do this by clicking on the following email link. Questions and concerns will be addressed as expeditiously as possible, and where appropriate, shared with other readers in future Master Planning Updates.

E-mail Questions - Comments

Summary

In closing, let me express the College's sincere appreciation to those who have shared ideas, expertise and time toward the master planning process, development of the College's Project Lists, educational specifications, review of proposals and selection of architects and construction firms. Every attempt has been made to be inclusive, and the College will continue this approach as we plan, design and construct each project. If anyone desires a copy of documentation for any specific project, please email me and I will provide a copy or direct you to an on-line link. Please stay engaged. With your continued participation and ideas, GCC will become what we dream.

Charles F. Jeffery
Dean of Institutional Planning