Buildings being renovated,
additional parking spaces, expansion of the Student Center, a new building
and a new soccer field are just some of the changes Palo Alto College
will be experiencing from now until September of 2005.
In March of 2003, Admissions and Records and Student Financial Services
had to relocate from the Administration Building to the Palomino Center
when it was discovered that the Administration Building contained black
mold.
The process took place by having environmentalists go into in the Administration Building and assess it because of black mold. The engineers went in and assessed the building as well. The environmentalist and engineers put together a report of recommendations of what was needed to be done in the Administration Building. They then did a request for proposals.
Robert Triana, Maintenance Plant Superintendent, said, “We will iron out all specs up to par, because there are a lot of things that we are finding that you cannot put in the specs. As they tear down walls, there are other items that are damaged and need attention, too. This will be our first testing program.”
Originally, the Fine and Performing Art Buildings were in the plans to be assessed first, but because of the concerns of employees in the Administration Building, they were set back. Maintenance and contractors will begin studying the Fine and Performing Art Buildings in late November/early December to see what needs to be done in those building. Soon after, contractors will began studying older buildings to see if they need to be treated for black mold.
The Administration Building’s
approximate date of completion is the end of December or early January.
Admissions and Records and Financial Aid will remain in the Palomino Center,
but the Continuing Education Department will move to the Administration
Building.
“What they found is that they really like having one building dedicated
to Student Services, where everybody is together,” said Guzmán.
Palo Alto received $4.98 million from a bond that Alamo Community College
District refinanced over a two-year period. It generated $25 million,
which was split up between each college in the district.
The money Palo Alto College received from the bond will be put directly
in the school. A new Applied Science & Technology Building will be
next to the Ray Ellison Family Center. The building will consist of classrooms,
laboratories and faculty offices. The estimated cost of the new building
is $3,892,186.
As reported in the October issue of The Pulse, the Student Center will
also be expanding. The approximate price ta on the Student Center is at
$671,029. In addition, a community soccer field, the first on the South
Side, will be added to the college behind the Natatorium. The money for
the field was gained by a bond that was passed during the last city-wide
election.
Thanks to the infusion of funds, a parking consultant will assess parking
needs at Palo Alto College. A new 200-space parking area is still in the
preliminary phase. It will be of service for students at the south entrance
of the Performing Arts Building by September of 2005. The estimated cost
is $360,000. A final cost will be determined after assessment is completed.
As for the hill by the Fine and Performing Arts Buildings where students
currently park, it will be the future home of Maintenance. The increasing
enrollment at Palo Alto College, from Fall of 2002 to the Fall of 2003,
has rose up 9.87 percent, meaning Maintenance will need more boilers and
chillers to heat and cool the buildings.
Palo Alto College students, faculty, and staff and community are seeing
the new projects take shape.
“The Southsiders have shown that, in this community, a college is
a very viable enterprise,” said Guzmán.