Rendering Courtesy of BNIM Architects

SAN MARCOS, CA (August 24, 2017) –  Construction has begun on a new Maintenance and Operations (M&O) complex on Palomar College’s San Marcos campus. The 28,000 square-foot complex will be located on the west side of the College, near the corner of Mission Road and Las Posas Road.

With 28,000 square feet of space, the new set of buildings will replace the current Facilities department, which is now housed in eight separate buildings on the north side of campus. Noted for its energy-efficient design, the new facility is expected to have “net-zero” readiness when completed.

Palomar College Superintendent-President Dr. Joi Lin Blake said, “This new complex is truly state-of-the-art in terms of energy efficiency, and sets an example for the way all new buildings should be built.”

Level 10 Construction is the general contractor for the project, in collaboration with BNIM Architects. Mike Conroy, Vice President of Operations for Level 10 Construction’s San Diego office, said “We believe that this project will have a major influence on how community colleges will view the long term financial benefits of incorporating sustainable design strategies into their future building programs.”

Dennis Astl, Palomar College Manager of Construction and Facilities Planning said, “The M&O building will be the most ‘green’ or sustainable building ever built by the District. We plan to submit the project as part of the Living Building Challenge, sponsored by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). We aim to achieve a rating of five out of seven ‘petals,’ which is one step above LEED and much more difficult to achieve.” Astl said that if Palomar’s M&O project gets this rating, the college will likely be “the first community college building in the world to get petal certified.”

The Maintenance and Operations complex project is being funded with Proposition M general obligation bond funds. This $694 million bond was approved by District voters in November 2006. Expected completion date for this project is late spring 2018.

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Laura Gropen, Director, Public Affairs Office, 760-744-1150 x2152