CONSTRUCTION: C.W. Driver Cos. Completes Home for School’s Biotech Program
By Ray Huard
OCEANSIDE – A $42.5 million newly completed lab and classroom building at MiraCosta College’s Oceanside campus is meant to grab the attention of visitors and prospective students.
Built by C.W. Driver Companies on a hilltop site and designed by HED Architects, the 20,630-square-foot Chemistry and Biotechnology building has distinctive rust-colored, perforated aluminum panels on the west side of the building and dozens of windows to let people see students at work in labs and classrooms.
“One of the design mantras was science on display,” said Andy Feth, project executive for C.W. Driver.
“This building is a hero building,” Feth said, so-called because it stands out from other buildings on campus and its location makes it “an anchor point for the campus.”
The main portion of the two-story building is separated from a smaller restroom section linked by a breezeway on the first floor and a covered walkway on the second floor.
Extra-wide walkways surround the building on the first and second floor provide space for people to congregate and room for classes to move outdoors.
“It’s a lot more than it seems. There’s a lot of space in the walkways for sure,” said Alex Reyna, C.W. Driver project manager.
A large, cantilevered roof adds to the distinctive look of the building while providing shade.
“The roof is about twice as big as the building footprint, so there’s a lot of covered space,” said Mike McConkey, senior superintendent at C.W. Driver. “It’s a pretty nice space to hang out.”
Structurally, large X-shaped, exposed steel frames help protect the building from earthquakes and are integrated into the overall design.
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