Elementary School Remodeled for College

SAN DIEGO — A former six-building elementary school is now home to the Mesa College Design Center after a $5.4 million renovation project.

 

Home of the college’s Department of Architecture and Environmental Design, the renovation included interior alterations, repairs, technology upgrades, and accessibility enhancements, along with exterior building and site improvements.

 

The renovation provides training facilities and classroom space for nine degree and 14 certificate programs for the architecture, building construction technology, interior design, and landscape architecture programs.

San Diego-based Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker Architects served as the design firm for the project, with Gafcon Inc. as the general contractor.

 

The facility is built to meet the highest LEED certification, in line with the San Diego Community College’s standard for all construction and major renovations.

 

Sustainable features include extensive use of natural lighting, design materials made with recycled content, a landscape plan with water-efficient irrigation, and low-water-use plants and shrubs.

The project was funded by the district’s $1.555 billion Propositions S and N construction bond program that provides for new teaching and career training facilities, major renovations, and campus-wide infrastructure projects at City, Mesa, and Miramar Colleges, and six Continuing Education locations.

 

Campus Project Manager: Diane K. Malone, AIA NCARB LEED AP, Gafcon Inc.

Architect: Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker Architects

Mechanical Engineering: McParlane & Associates

Electrical Engineer: Michael Wall Engineering

Structural Engineer: Hope Engineering

Civil Engineer: RBF Consulting

Landscape Architect: Wimmer Yamada & Caughey

Propositions S and N Program Manager: Gafcon Inc.