Technology Center

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Technology Center

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Project Description

Project Description
Background
Technology Center Goals
Administration Goals
Facility Goals
Existing Facilities - Technology Programs
Timeline and Scope
Comments and Feedback

Project Description

For nearly a decade, GRCC has been struggling with an increasing need for facilities that support its emerging computer technology programs. Analytical tools such as the Capital Analysis Model (CAM) formula indicated space shortfalls in these areas and subsequently identified the need for a study to address these issues. As a result, it was determined that the college needs a new Technology Center that will provide a state-of-the-art training facility for information technology systems and programs. State funds for the design stage of this project were approved in 2001 and a Technology Center Design Team comprised of GRCC instructors, administrative staff, and facilities personnel, along with a consultant team from S. M. Stemper Architects, created the design for a new Technology Center.

The Technology Center project is a product of the college master planning process. It has been developed using campus building standards, county codes and regulatory requirements, sustainable design and energy standards, and finally, a focused approach toward meeting the critical programmatic needs of the college. The project is also a key step toward a comprehensive master plan initiative to site the next two new major buildings on the existing athletic field close to the central core of campus. The ground is relatively flat and is suitable for construction. All required utilities are easily accessible and will provide service to the new buildings. The site is located adjacent to parking and will accommodate a plan to include storm detention, landscaping, pathways and plaza provisions. A concerted effort has been made to incorporate sustainable design features and aggressive energy efficiency measures. Finally it should be noted that the facility will be directly adjacent to the planned science building currently in design for construction in the following biennium.

The project is currently in construction and will be completed by December 2004.

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Background
A Pre-design Study was conducted in the summer of 2001 by a Pre-design Team consisting of GRCC instructors, administrative and facilities personnel, and a consultant team from S. M. Stemper Architects. It was determined that adequate space and technology to accommodate the explosive demand for training in information technology was badly needed. The College is at maximum utilization of its existing facilities and is facing a critical shortage of open computer labs and technology instruction space. As population and industry continue to grow in the Puget Sound region, a strong ripple effect is being felt by the College to meet the growing demands for technology training. The dramatic increase in enrollment, the resultant sharp decrease in the availability of computer lab space, and the addition of new technology courses and programs to meet demand prompted the college to seek funding for a new facility. During the study, a detailed analysis was made to identify the scope of the project and the program needs to be addressed by this proposed facility.

The proposed new facility is not only identified in the College's 10-year plan and included in the current master plan, but it is also a key element in the College's master facilities plan. The Pre-design Study outlined the need for this facility and set parameters for its program design, budget, and schedule.

The Technology Center will address the existing programmatic and operating goals of the College, including:

• Expansion of under-allocated computer lab space and a technology certification program

• A flexible infrastructure

• A collaborative information technology (IT) environment

• Accessibility

• Sustainable design

A major benefit of this new facility will be the ability to utilize the College's existing computer lab space more efficiently. Currently, programs are being conducted in dedicated computer laboratories that are essentially single function. The new facility will accommodate multiple program use laboratory classrooms with the option for expanded hours. Also, with the emerging role of computers in the general classroom environment, there is a distinction between computer lab and general classroom program space.

The Pre-design Study allowed team members and stakeholders to review some key elements in the College's developing master plan. A major institutional master planning decision was made to located this facility on the on the athletic field just north of the existing Science, Math & Technology (SMT) building. A primary advantage of this decision is that there would be adequate space to locate an adjacent replacement facility for the College's aging science complex. The utility infrastructure is directly available at the site and concurrent site development for both facilities offers a number of cost and development advantages. Additionally, the programs that are planned in these facilities are well situated for related studies and faculty/staff support in the adjacent SMT building. Another advantage to this location includes the reutilization of existing developed acreage, supporting the College's goal of preserving the natural campus environment and incorporating achievable elements of sustainable design.

The major disadvantage of utilizing this site for the new Technology Center and Science Building is the loss of the athletic field. Replacing the track function and playing field will be aggressively addressed in the developing master plan through future campus design options.

Finally, a major benefit to the College will be recognized through the development of a facility that is designed explicitly for the technical systems and programs it will serve. Already a number of features emerged from the Pre-design Study that will significantly lower the maintenance and operations burden on the College once the Technology Center is on-line. When complete, the proposed new facility will be a focal point of the campus, adjacent to the core of the college, with provisions for easy movement of equipment in and out of the building.

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Technology Center Goals
The new Technology Center will be an essential resource in meeting the College's stated mission. The goals to be achieved by the Technology Center include:

• Fill current computer lab shortages for computer network assembly, computer switching and routing, and computer repair and assembly classes.

• Provide an open computer commons with instructor pods for open and scheduled instructional use.

• Develop a learning environment for the aviation program that responds  to growing programmatic needs.

• Provide a flexible infrastructure with capacity to meet immediate and future technology needs.

• Create a computer commons that is available to students 24-hours a day.

• Build a new facility sited to preserve the natural campus environment and incorporate achievable elements of sustainable design.

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Administration Goals
The primary administrative goal for the new Technology Center is to provide the necessary computer labs to keep pace with the increased student enrollment in information technology programs. Additionally, the Technology Center will:

• Provide a centrally located, state-of-the-art building with server and network systems to support computer technology, campus-wide.

• Provide a continuously operated, open computer center that can be utilized for individual study and/or group instruction.

• Allow flexibility necessary to incorporate future technology systems.

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Facility Goals
The facility goals for the new Technology Center are:

• Implement computer, server and network systems necessary to support immediate program needs with sufficient infrastructure for future technologies.

• Develop a facility with universal access for all students and staff, including persons with disabilities.

• Create an inviting building for the public. The College wants to promote the internal activities of the Technology Center with generous use of clear glazing (window) systems. At the same time, there is a concern for ensuring security of the people and equipment within the Technology Center.

• Develop the Technology Center as a focal point of the campus. The building will be located at the core of the College campus, adjacent to pedestrian circulation and accessible to parking, with provisions for easy movement of equipment in and out of the building.

• Maximize sustainable design principles to reduce energy consumption through the incorporation of natural lighting and natural ventilation systems; allow the reuse of rainwater water; and eliminate VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) materials.

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Existing Facilities - Technology Programs
Presently, all of the College's high technology courses are offered through technology programs holding classes in two buildings: the SMT (Science, Math & Technology) Building and the Holman Library. These programs include: Computer Systems Administration, Computer Information Technology (CIT), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Design Drafting, Electronics (including Telecommunications), and Aviation Technologies.

In addition, the Business Division currently delivers computer-based courses for Business Education (office administration programs), Computer Reporting Technologies, Accounting, and Marketing. These programs utilize computer labs located in the Business & Industry (BI) building and also the Holman Library.

All of these programs have dedicated laboratories that are essentially single function. Because the College does not have a 24-hour — 7-day-a-week — year-round open laboratory space for students to do homework and work on projects, all of these labs must allocate open lab time with access to the appropriate hardware and software. This prevents adding additional courses and creates an inefficient use of labs.

One of the goals of this project is to consolidate all the high technology classrooms and laboratories into one facility - the new Technology Center. This consolidation will result in a more effective use of computer labs and will open up space in existing buildings for badly needed faculty offices and general-purpose classrooms. Faculty office space needs are important, as currently faculty members are often forced to share the same offices and even the same desks by working in shifts, which decreases their efficiency and reduces class-planning time. Additionally, the College does not have sufficient general-purpose classrooms for its current curriculum offerings. Though the Technology Center will provide space for these needs, the project will not fully address the shortages of the program areas. This issue is currently being addressed in the development of the campus master plan.

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Timeline and Scope
For an up-to-date projected timeline, please refer to the most recent Progress Report.

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Comments and Feedback
You may submit your questions regarding this project by sending an e-mail to Sam Ball.

Our project team will review the questions and submit replies to the inquirer.

In an effort to keep you informed as to the plans and progress of the project, this website will be periodically updated.

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