Student Center services relocated for seismic retrofit
by Jan Janes on Oct 7, 2016This page will be updated throughout the project. Last update: 1/29/2017
The building housing the Student Center, along with the bookstore, counseling, admissions and records, the nurse's office, food services and college administration is undergoing a seismic retrofit to bring it up to current earthquake safety standards. During construction, most services normally found in the Student Center will be provided in the Multipurpose Building. These include Admissions and Records, the Bookstore, Financial Aid, the ASGC, Counseling, Student Health, and the Welcome Center. The Office of the President and the vice presidents of student services and instruction will be moved to the Child Development Center. Food service will be provided in a kitchen trailer adjacent to the Health Occupations Building near Parking Lot "C."
The following services are now located in the Multipurpose Building:
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Admissions and Records
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ASGC
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Bookstore
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Financial Aid
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Welcome Center
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Counseling
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Student Health
Foos Service is located in The Kitchen Trailer near Parking Lot C
Background:
What needs to happen?
The roofs of the student center and the administration building will undergo a change in the wall ties between the roof and exterior walls to provide stability in the event of a large, locally occurring seismic event. The east wall of the student center, much of it glass, will have a new steel cross brace installed for stability. The repair work entails opening up a two-foot channel around the perimeter of the ceilings. Because older buildings contain asbestos materials, the first step will be asbestos abatement. The second step is the seismic work reattaching the roof using stiffening plates bolting the steel to the wood frame. After the seismic work is completed, the bathrooms adjacent to the counseling offices and the counters in admissions and records, financial aid and executive assistant areas will be renovated to meet ADA accessibility standards. Everything will be repainted and refloored.
When will this start?
Effective October 17, the Student Center and Administration Buidlings will be closed to the public. Services will be provided as follows:
- The Office of the President and vice presidents and support staff will be in the Child Development building
- Counselors, admissions and records, financial aid and the bookstore will relocate to the Multipurpose building
- The Café will become The Kitchen, a food truck located just west of Parking Lot C
What will the The Kitchen (aka the food truck) offer?
The current grill and deli menu will remain the same. Beverages and snacks will be available, with a reduced selection and fewer grab and go items. The Kitchen uses a flame broiler to prepare items, and lines may be longer at peak service times.
When will the construction start, and how long will it take?
The Gavilan College Board of Trustees will review and approve the winning bidder at its November 8 meeting, with construction beginning soon after. Time frame for asbestos removal, seismic roof repair plus Division of State Architect inspection and sign off, and building renovation is five months. The anticipated completion and move in is late April/early May 2017.
Who is paying for all of this?
Because the construction is required by the state, the project will be funded one-third with State Scheduled Maintenance funds and two-thirds Lease Revenue bonds.
What other improvements are expected?
Associated Students of Gavilan College are preparing a survey asking all students what new furnishings and amenities they would like in the new student center.