Pierce College administrators, faculty and students participated in the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, Feb 21 for the Academic West Building, which will provide a new home for philosophy, sociology, media arts, and art and architecture departments.
Pierce College President Ara Aguiar shared her thoughts on what the ceremony means to her.
“It means the development of a state-of-the-art facility that is also utilizing environmental nuances or environmental processes that make it friendly to the environment,” Aguiar said.
Los Angeles Community College District Interim Chancellor Alberto J. Roman shared his objectives for the upcoming academic building.
“Over the years, we have not been able to give our students in philosophy, sociology and media arts a place that we believe is a state-of-the-art facility,” Roman said. “For the first time, we’re excited that they’ll be able to be in a place that is 21st century state-of-the-art.”
Roman expressed his feelings about what this project will bring to the Pierce College campus.
“It means a lot students infer quality based on what they see, and we believe our students deserve to be in these types of facilities,” Roman said. “We want to continue to support the Pierce community, and by bringing forward this new facility, we know that the students in our community will benefit greatly from having this beautiful building and being able to get their education completed here.”
Faculty members, such as Department Chair of Art and Architecture Melody Cooper, contributed their excitement and hopes for the upcoming academic building.
“A lot of interaction between the departments that are housed here,” Cooper said. “I’m looking forward to seeing our art events, which will highlight the professional and student work and community.”
Department Chair of Philosophy and Sociology Cara Gillis expressed her thoughts on what the new building will bring to the Department of Philosophy.
“We are excited to have some dedicated classrooms where our students can feel comfortable learning,” Gillis said. “A lot of the things that we press on in philosophy and sociology can be uncomfortable and hard to think about, so having a welcoming, comfortable, inclusive environment is going to make it easier for our students and our faculty.”
Roman added more on the future perspectives on facilities that will be available for the students.
“It’s going to have an art exhibition and radio station, and again, it’s going to have up-to-date technology, and we’ll be able to compete with any college across the state given the technology we are infusing into this project,” Roman said.
