The Voice - Student Newspaper

Upgraded GCC North campus opens

Students at Glendale Community College North (GCC) had a newly expanded campus to welcome them for the fall semester.

GCC North held an open house ceremony on Aug. 14 to officially unveil the recent campus expansion, which includes four new buildings.

The open house featured several speakers from Glendale Community College, Maricopa County Community Colleges District, RNL Design and CORE Construction. Campus tours were also offered afterward.

"This is the beginning of a new phase for GCC North," said Alberto Sanchez, vice president of student services. "This project is like the birth of one of my own children, only much better on my pocketbook."

GCC North, located at 5727 Happy Valley Rd., has increased the site four-fold by adding 67,000 sq. ft., totaling the campus size to over 87,000 sq. ft.

Included in the upgrade is a new student services building, named Chinle; which houses an advisement and enrollment center, a bookstore, a cafeteria, and a fitness center.

There is also a new instruction building, dubbed Dinnebito, containing classrooms and labs for biology, chemistry, and physical sciences; classes which have never been offered at the campus before. Dinnebito also offers a tutoring center.

Beshbito, a new information building, will house the library media center and technology commons. The fourth new building is titled El Capitan, which serves the energy needs for the campus.

The project, funded by a 2004 bond initiative, took 15 months to complete from inception to construction. But "the project was years in the making," said DeeDee Denslow, GCC North Dean, "and [was] a very gratifying experience."

"Thanks to the voters who approved the bond passage," said Dr. Rufus Glasper, MCCCD Chancellor, "this is what you see. We are truly making changes."

Many environmental considerations were made during the design phase of the project, hoping to minimize any impact on the surrounding desert. Craig Randock, RNL Design principal, emphasized the caution taken to preserve the views and natural environment of the site. Saguaro cacti and Ironwood trees were replanted, native rock was reused, and irrigation systems were designed to be highly efficient.

Christopher Ledwith, senior associate with RNL Design, when asked if he was pleased with the results, said simply: "Thrilled."

"We will achieve great things at GCC," said Dr. Velvie Green, GCC president, sharing her excitement in fulfilling the mission and vision of the college by making the campus a full service facility for students.

A ribbon cutting ceremony followed the open house remarks, with Dr. Green performing the honor. Dr. Green was flanked by Denslow and Isaac Torres, GCC Associated Student Government President.

While part of the ceremony was a reflection of the past, many were looking to the future. "I hope that GCC [North] will be a place of fond memories," said Randock.