By Ashley Montero, Chronicle Staff Writer
Construction at Cypress College is still underway following the Measure J Bond, which was voted in favor on Nov. 4, 2014, with the nearly finished duck pond and Veterans’ resource center, and the still-in-progress Science, Math, and Engineering building.
On Nov. 4, 2014, the Measure J Bond was voted in favor that granted $574 million towards renovations within the North Orange County Community College District. The significant three known projects that are underway are the duck pond, the Veteran’s Resource Center, and the Science, Math, and Engineering building. Both the duck pond and the Veteran’s Resource Center are near to complete, while the Science, Math, and Engineering building is estimated to be complete by Fall 2021.
The refurbished duck pond sits adjacent to the Veteran’s Resource Center with a memorial bridge that opens from the tribute garden to the entrance of the building. The seating along the embankment has been changed, creating a larger gathering space for students.
The Veterans’ Center is “essentially complete” however finishing touches are still in progress. This center is planned to be the new home for veterans to find resources available for them rather than Cypress College’s previous allocated center for veterans at the Admission and Records counter.
“Even though they’re in a temporary space now, what they have lacked, and have lacked all along are some things that are really basic for serving veterans. One of things is a private meeting space for veterans to meet with representatives of outside agencies,” Marc S. Posner, Director of Communications said. “To have a gathering space, a hangout space, a space where they feel comfortable. You know, where a speaker comes in and talks about maybe about PTSD or other issues. None of those things existed.”
Meanwhile, the new Science, Math, and Engineering building is still underway with its modernized discipline, which is projected to create more accommodating benchwork in the labs, restrooms, and accessibility for wheelchair use. Including an immersive digital classroom that can be described as a “planetarium” that is planned to showcase course content.
Posner said, “To my way of thinking, the number one thing that changes with the new building was modern. And by that I really do mean accommodating the modern needs of students you will have labs that are the right size in that building. You know, you’ll have the right number of workspaces for a type of lab, you will have lab space that is physically accommodating to new technology.”
Although the three significant projects underway at Cypress College are still marked as incomplete, it is expected that the Veteran’s Resource Center and the duck pond will be finished in 2021.
