Venerable aviation training facility redesign and modernization is on track to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification

What: Ceremonial groundbreaking for modernization and expansion of the historic Aviation Center at San Diego Miramar College, the latest San Diego Community College District project funded by Propositions S and N. The original facility, built in 1971, will undergo a retrofit of existing classrooms and lab spaces, and include new classrooms for a total of 15,300 square feet. The $10.2 million project is on track to obtain a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) – one of 10 LEED-certified projects built or planned at Miramar and among 30 across the District. The project is expected to be completed in Fall 2012.

When: Friday, September 30, 11 a.m.

Where: Construction site is located east of the A-1 Administration Building. See map.

Program Speakers Include:

• Patricia Hsieh, Ed.D., President, San DiegoMiramar College DiegoMiramar College
• Rich Grosch, President, SDCCD Board of Trustees
• Constance Carroll, Ph.D., Chancellor, SDCCD
• David Buser, Chair, Aeronautical and Aviation Department

Other Interview Opportunities:

Faculty, staff, students, architects and contractors

** Spanish speakers are available

Background:

In the fall of 1971, San Diego Miramar College expanded its mission from exclusively providing public safety training to serving the aviation industry.  Miramar College’s aviation maintenance technology program – approved by the FAA – would become the primary supplier of trained technicians for the next 15 years for San Diego-based Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA). 

In 1991, the aviation ground school and operations program moved from San Diego Mesa College to San Diego Miramar College, enabling Miramar to serve the entire aviation industry.  The campus mascot is the “Jets” and homage is paid to the campus’ previous life as the Hourglass Runway throughout the campus.

Visuals/Media Availability

• Ceremonial “dig” to commemorate official groundbreaking
• Construction crew, district and campus leaders, students
• Construction equipment, including excavators
• Full-color architectural renderings of the project

Project Partners

• Architect: Joseph Wong Design Associates
• Construction Manager: Legacy Building Services
• Structural Engineer: TMAD Taylor & Gaines
• Electrical Engineer: The Engineering Partners
• Mechanical/Plumbing Engineer: DEC Engineers
• Propositions S & N Program Manager Campus Project Manager: Gafcon, Inc. – James Bray, Gafcon, Inc.

 The $1.555 billion Propositions S and N construction bond program is providing new state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities, major renovations and campus wide infrastructure projects at City, Mesa and Miramar Colleges and six Continuing Education campuses throughout San Diego.  For more information, please visit www.public.sdccdprops-n.com. 

Media Contact:
Sandi Trevisan
Public Information Officer
San Diego Miramar College
(619) 388-7752            
strevisa@sdccd.edu 
 
Media Contact:
Ursula Kroemer
Communications Director
Propositions S & N Construction  Program
(760) 705-6919
ukroemer@gafcon.com