San Bernardino Community College District recently celebrated the grand opening of the San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) Applied Technology Building with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. HMC Architects was proud to join Safeworks CM, AECOM, Icon West, district officials, prominent community members, and SBVC faculty, staff, and students to celebrate the completion of the newest workforce training hub in the region.
SBVC is setting out to create a high-performance facility to launch its net-zero energy pilot program. Envisioned as a high-tech circuit, the 114,897 SF project connects department programs, campus, industry, and community. It serves as a Living Lab, maximizing efficiency and environmental stewardship in a demonstrative way. The project will host comprehensive EV automotive, electronics, machining, HVAC&R, water tech, and emerging tech programs, supported by labs, lecture halls, and gathering spaces. The automotive labs feature a set of five thermal chimneys that work in conjunction with the project’s high velocity-low speed fans and bi-fold doors to enhance thermal comfort within the large lab spaces. The PV deck located off the electronics and flex labs, provides students with hands-on training on how to assemble, disassemble, and analyze energy systems or a working photovoltaic system. Numerous ‘sticky spaces’ carved out around the building provide students with physical and AV support outside of classrooms for social, group work, and cross-disciplinary exposure. The project is also targeting LEED Platinum Certification. With an all-electric building mechanical system, thermal chimneys, and a PV support structure that will provide nearly 70 percent of the building’s anticipated energy use, the Technical Education Building anticipates a 64 percent energy savings over T24 requirements.
California State Labor Secretary Stewart Knox attended the event where he spoke about the project’s tremendous impact. Home to various educational programs, including traditional and electric vehicle automotive training and emerging technology spaces, the building holds significant promise for the San Bernardino community by creating a pipeline of skilled professionals and promoting economic growth. Graduates from these educational programs will have the potential to earn between $80,000 and $100,000 annually, surpassing the area’s median income.
While in design, the building has won several prestigious awards including a California Community College Facility Coalition (CCFC) Project in Design Award of Excellence and U.S. Green Building Council California (USGBC-CA) California Green Building Award in the Energy and Operational Carbon Category.
Watch the video below to see inside the project and hear from SBVC students about its impact.
