LONG BEACH, CA — C.W. Driver Companies announces the completion of a 95,500-square-foot, multi-disciplinary facility for Long Beach City College. Designed to be a 21st-century learning environment and achieve LEED Gold Certification, the $50.9-million, three-story facility is the first design-build project funded by the state of California. Located on the Liberal Arts Campus, the building will house language arts, career technology education, computer and office studies, the student success center, and student success and support programs. The facility will be open to students in time for the spring 2023 semester.

As a ground-up project, the construction involved the abatement and demolition of two existing 1960s concrete frame buildings as well as all associated utilities, hardscape, irrigation, and landscaping. The new facility is constructed as a single steel frame structure complete with classroom, study, and administrative spaces. Other key spaces include lecture halls, reading and writing focus areas, breakout rooms, and film studies theater. The project is surrounded by community courtyards where students can connect, study, and socialize.

“We are excited to turn the keys over to Long Beach City College on a modern facility that meets the school’s sustainability goals and creates a centralized learning environment,” said Tom Jones, Project Executive at C.W. Driver Companies. “We were able to combine our many years building for higher education clients with our design-build expertise to realize efficiencies through enhanced communication and collaboration with our project partners.”

As a nod to the historical framework and character of the college’s Liberal Arts Campus, the new facility features elements of the Spanish colonial revival style alongside the introduction of contemporary elements. The fusion of design concepts creates an atmosphere that embraces both past and present.

Sustainable design practices were integrated into the project in order to achieve LEED Gold Certification. The project focused on water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and material resources. Notable features include: light colored hardscape; overhangs, balconies, and shade structures to mitigate the heat island effect; stormwater retention basin; low-flow efficient plumbing structures; HVAC strategies for improved air quality; and more.

“Sustainability is an integral part of our design and construction standards here at Long Beach City College,” said Dr. Chip West, Long Beach City College Vice President of Business Services. “The design build entity of C.W. Driver Companies and HPI Architecture built a state-of-the-art academic building that will greatly help our students reach their academic goals while reducing our carbon footprint.”

Funding was provided by California State Proposition 51 and by Measure E, a $440-million bond approved in 2008, and Measure LB, a $850-million bond approved in 2016, to fund new construction, renovation, and repairs at the Long Beach City College Pacific Coast Campus and the Liberal Arts Campus.

C.W. Driver Companies collaborated with HPI Architecture on the project. Over the past 20 years, C.W. Driver Companies has delivered more than 40 design-build projects across California valued at $585 million. Other notable higher education design-build projects from the firm include San Diego Mesa College’s Fine Arts Building; CSU, San Marcos’ Student Health and Counseling Building; UC San Diego’s East Campus Office Building; UC Irvine’s Alumni Center; and two recently awarded projects for CSU, Fullerton’s Visual Arts Campus and Mira Costa College’s Oceanside Campus - Chemistry and Biotechnology Building.