The Surge in Construction Continues in Downtown L.A. with
LA Trade-Tech Kick Off the Largest Project to Date

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the South Campus Project marks the start of construction for the college's new $77.8 million project

Nov. 1, 2007 (LOS ANGELES) A brisk November morning did not cool the spirits of Los Angeles Trade-Tech College (LATTC) and Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) officials as they joined State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry and honored guests to celebrate the beginning of construction activity for the college's largest construction project to date. The new $77.8 million South Campus project promises to change the college's footprint and complement the renaissance taking place in the South Downtown area. It will also continue the District's commitment to building green and train workers for the 21st century Los Angeles County.

"If we want a more effective workforce in the state of California, it is my point of view that it'll have to be as a result of us focusing with much more intensity on community colleges," said Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, 26th State District." My vision is that we support our community colleges so they would become the premier producer of highly-educated and technologically-competent workers which would fuel the California economy into the foreseeable future."

"For decades, LA Trade-Tech has served as an academic cornerstone for Los Angeles County, training students for the jobs of today and the future," said Roland "Chip" Chapdelaine, LATTC President,. "Now with state-of-the-art classrooms and new facilities we are one step closer to giving students the campus they deserve."

"The economic and social ramifications of this project are extraordinary," said Dr. Mark Drummond, LACCD's Chancellor. "The South Campus will provide us with additional resources to increase our capacity; allow us to continue to provide our students with the technical support and experience to increase our region's talent pool of high-skilled labor; and provide our students the educational tools to improve their quality of life.

The South Campus project is the second largest construction venture in the LACCD's Prop A/AA Bond Construction Program and will consist of two new five-story buildings which will house:

• Technology Classrooms (approximately 66,228 sq. ft.)
• Student Services (approximately 56,302 sq. ft.)
• Feature extensive landscaping and a 1,800 sq. ft. utility building

The two new academic buildings will each be LEED-certified-silver, a rating system of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) in step with the District's commitment to green building. The project is part of the college's $227.6 million construction program funded through the District-wide $2.2 billion Proposition A/AA Bond Construction Program. The Los Angeles Community College District is the largest community college system in the country, educating more than 188,000 students each year. The LACCD has embarked on a $2.2 billion construction and modernization program at its nine college campuses. As funded by the Proposition A/AA Bond construction program, the LACCD is also currently undertaking the largest public sector sustainable building effort in the United States. For more information, visit www.LACCDBuildsGreen.org.

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Los Angeles Trade-Tech College officials and faculty mark the beginning of construction activity for the college's new $78 million South Campus project, funded by Proposition A/AA monies.




Rendering of the South Campus project: