Summer Building Boom Will Bring New State-of-the-art Facilities to MiraCosta College

Extensive construction, renovation, and design activities are underway at MiraCosta College, part of the District’s comprehensive capital improvement program, providing major facility transformations, new construction, upgraded instructional technology, and safety and accessibility enhancements.

​The summer building boom includes constructing several new facilities and major renovations. “We are so pleased to be able to provide world-class facilities for our students and staff,” said Tim Flood, MiraCosta’s Vice President of Administrative Services. “We have taken advantage of the lull in some campus operations brought about by the pandemic to accelerate our building program. Students will notice a lot of activity as they return for the fall semester.”
 
“The reception to our new facilities and building renovations has been very positive,” added Flood. “We are indebted to North County taxpayers for supporting Measure MM and being partners in bringing about these critical facility transformations.”
 
The projects are funded by the $455 million Measure MM construction bond, and provide several key improvements, including upgrades to career training facilities for science, healthcare, technology, and the skilled trades. These upgrades to key academic facilities allow for state-of-the-art environments and laboratories across curriculum areas.
 
“These facilities are providing for the future of education in the North County,” said Flood. “They also serve as an investment into our local workforce, and that’s a win-win for all involved.”
 
Projects under construction include four new buildings on the Oceanside Campus, including the Student Services Building, the Theresia M. Heyden Hall for Nursing and Allied Health, the Kinesiology, Health, and Nutrition (KHAN) Building, the new Gymnasium, and a renovation of the Administration Building.
 
Efforts are also underway to bid and award the new Chemistry and Biotechnology Building and the Arts and Media buildings.
 
Oceanside Campus
 
Oceanside Campus’ Administration Building is undergoing an extensive renovation to improve space efficiency and accessibility and replace failing infrastructure components. The existing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural systems are being updated or replaced to meet current building and seismic code requirements. The $12.8 million project encompasses approximately 18,800 square feet of space. The project architect is Little Architects andCaliba, Inc. serves as the general contractor. The project is slated for completion in fall 2022.
 
The new Student Services Building will consolidate student service functions currently scattered throughout the campus into a single, one-stop-shop. It will include a new home for the Veterans Center. Located in the former home of Pedley Park, the new building is strategically positioned to act as a gateway building for the campus, providing a much-needed sense of entry and easy wayfinding for new or prospective students. The building will be a two-story structure and will allow access and entry from the street level for visitors and the campus promenade level for current students.
 
The $62.1 million project comprises 54,556 square feet of space; a design-build partnership leads it with DLR Group and Swinerton Builders. The project is scheduled for completion in fall 2023.
 
Scheduled for completion in spring 2024 are the new Nursing and Allied Health Building and the new Kinesiology building.
 
The Nursing and Allied Health Building, named for long-time Oceanside resident, philanthropist, and former nurse, Theresia M. Heyden, will provide a consolidated location and appropriate facilities for all Allied Health programs. The facility will include state-of-the-art simulation spaces, including patient and operating rooms, hands-on skills labs, and classrooms.
 
The $28.8 million facility will be part of the Health and Wellness Academic Hub on campus; the project is led by the design-build partnership of HMC Architects and Balfour Beatty.
 
The Hub will also include a new gymnasium complex, replacing the existing outdated gym buildings, with the new KHAN Building, Wellness Center, athletics instruction spaces, and modernized gymnasium.
 
The $41.1 million project, encompassing 40,915 square feet, will include locker rooms, equipment storage, and a multi-purpose studio. It is also led by HMC Architects and Balfour Beatty.
 
The bid and award period is underway for the new Chemistry and Biotechnology Building and the new Arts and Media Building, both slated to be completed in the summer 2024.
 
The new Chemistry and Biotechnology Building will provide a 23,391 square foot facility, new chemistry and biochemistry labs, and two 40-seat flexible classrooms. The building will provide needed space for growth as the District’s Biotechnology program expands its Baccalaureate degree program. The project will be a significant component of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) quad and plaza. HED Architects and CW Driver lead the $42.5 million project as part of a design-build procurement.
 
The new Arts and Media Building will include a new Art Gallery, two computer labs, a film studies classroom, student study and collaboration spaces, faculty offices, the Media Arts labs, a coffee cart-type element, and extensive display areas for student art. The $21.7 million project, led by HMC Architects and Balfour Beatty, will provide dedicated student-friendly study and collaboration spaces, and have a strategic path to the campus promenade.
 
The design for the renovation of Library Building is currently in review by the Division of the State Architect (DSA). Led by Architects Mosher Drew and Level 10 Construction, the $32.5 million project will involve renovating nearly 47,800 square feet of space within the Oceanside Campus Library. Interior layouts will be adjusted to accommodate changing programming needs. Construction could begin next spring.
 
Designs are underway for several other projects, including the renovation and new construction that will make up the future Communications Hub and Equity Village. Construction should get underway in spring and summer 2024.
 
Designs are also underway for a theatre lighting upgrade for Building 2000 and a campus wide wayfinding and signage plan. Infrastructure enhancements and ADA upgrades are ongoing.
 
San Elijo Campus
 
Summer projects include a slate of facility repairs and campus enhancements. Projects completed earlier in spring include the renovation of Library Building 100, renovations to the labs in Science Building 400, and the remodel of the Student Center in Building 900. Future projects include a renovation of Building 700 and renovations to the campus quad.
 
Community Learning Center (CLC)
 
At the CLC site, buildings 100 and 200 have been significantly remodeled to improve efficiency and space needs. This has provided approximately 9,000 square feet in updated spaces for the District’s acclaimed Adult High School Program, part of MiraCosta’s Continuing Education offerings, Academic Services, the Library, and faculty offices.An additional 29,500 square feet of primarily classroom space was also renovated to provide extensive system upgrades.
 
The final scope is to replace the aging skylights in the lobby of Building 100. The work is scheduled to be completed ahead of the start of the fall semester. SGPA Architects leads the $12.7 million project; Align Builders is the general contractor.
 
The projects are funded by the $455 million Measure MM construction bond, state or other funding sources, and some District funding.
 
Visuals/Media Availability:
• Construction activities
• Design renderings
• Interviews are available with MiraCosta College Superintendent/President, Dr. Sunita Cooke, Board President, Anna Pedroza, and members of the project design and construction teams upon request
• Spanish speakers are also available upon request
• Construction status photos can be provided upon request 
Detailed information about all the District’s Capital Improvement projects is available for public review through the Capital Improvement Dashboard on MiraCosta College’s website. The Dashboard provides build-out details, financial performance, and project schedule performance.
 
About MiraCosta College
 
The MiraCosta Community College District has served the coastal North San Diego County area for over 80 years. More than 19,000 credit students annually in over 70 disciplines enroll in associate degrees, university transfer and workforce readiness certificate programs. The college also serves over 7,000 students a wide spectrum of educational needs in the region ranging from programs for adult education, community education, basic skills, and ESL to a California Community College pilot program offering the nation’s first baccalaureate degree in biomanufacturing. As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), veteran and military supportive institution, and Achieving the Dream Leader College, MiraCosta College fosters the academic and holistic success of its diverse learners within a caring and equitable environment to strengthen the educational, economic, cultural, and social well-being of the communities it serves. MiraCosta College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).