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Advanced Technology Center groundbreaking ceremony

     A groundbreaking ceremony took place on campus April 28 at the site planned for Victor Valley College’s new Advanced Technology Center.

     Speaking at the ceremony were VVC President Dr. Patricia Spencer, President of the VVC Board of Trustees  Joe Range, California State Senator George Runner, California State Assembly Member Sharon Runner (the spouse of Senator Runner) and a host of other public officials.

     The Technology Center, which is scheduled for completion in 2008, will be a 46,620- square-foot building located on the southwest side of the VVC campus next to the

Art and Music buildings and overlooking the lake. It will include a bridge that spans the lake and ties into the Performing Arts Center, and be completely accessible to students with physical disabilities, according to a program distributed at the ceremony.

     The center’s primary purpose will be as a mecca of computer-related training activities such as digital animation, automated computer aided design, computer information science and business education technology. It will feature 20 multi-purpose computer labs and an open mall area complete with laptop docking stations and wireless Internet access;  every docking station will be equipped with voice, video and data ports, according to a

VVC press release.

          When the center is finally up and running, students will, among other things, be able to access the Internet, process documents, design buildings, create computer animation and learn computer programming.

     “The design and use of this 46,000 square-foot building with over 900 computer stations represents a new age in teaching and learning: An age in which computer technology is used to enhance teaching and increase student success,” said Spencer in her opening remarks to the ceremony.

     The 21 million dollar project, which has been in planning for seven years but was delayed because of real estate problems, is being funded by a state revenue

bond, according to Steve Garcia, VVC director of facilities construction and contracts.         

     “It’s been a long time coming. The project was stalled because of real estate issues. It was slated to be completed two years ago. Now we’re all very excited about it,” said Garcia.