GCC North Turns Twenty

Tuesday, October 20, 2020
GCC North, 20th Anniversary Logo

A shared campus vision between Glendale Community College (GCC) and Deer Valley High School laid the groundwork for the GCC North Campus. Twenty years later, the mission has evolved, and the campus is thriving.  The vision has shifted to serving college students and meeting the needs of the burgeoning northwest valley. 

In the early 2000s, Deer Valley High School and GCC collaborated to bring college-level classes to high school students. The location on 57th Avenue and Happy Valley Road was selected, and the buildings that now serve as the Aqua Sal (A complex) were erected. While the Dual Enrollment program that drove the initiative is now taught 100% at the high schools, GCC North has expanded its role to provide classes and services to the surrounding community. Maricopa Community College District and GCC leadership determined that the projected area growth justified the need to begin a multi-phased master plan to build another campus​.​

Each of the buildings at GCC North is named after Arroyos located in the northern part of Arizona; Aqua Sal, Beshbito, Chinle, Dinnebito, and El Capitan. In 2000, the Aqua Sal complex, consisting of modular classrooms, welcomed their first students to the North Campus. The rest of the Phase I buildings (house the library, computer commons, fitness center, enrollment center, function space, classrooms, and offices) were completed by 2008.

Once the rest of the phases are finished, the campus will have buildings on both sides of the wash that bisects the campus. GCC Academic Dean Chuck Jeffery commented, "We wanted to keep the wash as pristine as possible. It played an instrumental role in the vision, design, and construction of GCC North. Instead of altering the natural landscape, we decided to build around it with the wash serving as the campus's center point. Eventually, bridges will span the wash, connecting the north and south buildings." The master plan for GCC North Campus calls for multiple construction phases; Phase I was completed with the Dinnebito building build-out in 2008. 

Currently, GCC North has everything necessary to meet the needs of the community. This includes new leadership on campus from Dr. Lorelei Carvajal, who is excited about the future. "Serving the community is one of our core values. We are very fortunate to be located in such a vibrant community, and my goal is to expand our offerings so we can better meet the needs of the residents and businesses who are our neighbors," stated GCC Senior Associate Vice President, Dr. Carvajal.

To illustrate the community's commitment, Dr. Carvajal pointed out that GCC North has been providing drive-thru COVID testing since the beginning of September, and the Chinle Building is an official voting location.  Dr. Carvajal said, "There are endless opportunities to serve the community, and exploring all possibilities is a priority. We really have a blank canvas,​​​ and I am excited to work with the local schools, our neighbors,​ and surrounding businesses to make sure that this campus is serving their needs."

Have thoughts or ideas you would like to share regarding GCC North, please contact Dr. Lorelei Carvajal. The Glendale Community College North Campus is located on 57th Avenue and Happy Valley Road. Learn more about the history of GCC North.​