June 30, 2008

As Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s newest building rises from the ground, so does the promise of increased classroom space and the ability to accommodate a growing number of students in the Southeast Valley.

Engel Hall, located at CGCC’s Williams Campus in Mesa, will include four specialized labs for Nursing and Life Sciences, six general classrooms, and two lecture classrooms, as well as seventeen faculty offices and support spaces.

The $11 million project, which broke ground last December, should be completed in November, with classes beginning in January.

“Programming in this building is designed to support the growing need for healthcare training in the Southeast Valley and will provide space for continued growth of general education offerings on the Williams Campus,” said Williams Campus Provost John Schroeder.

The new building will be the first CGCC building to achieve LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

“CGCC is committed to building all its new spaces to this high level of sustainability,” said Mark Mason, Vice President of Administrative Services at CGCC. “We believe that it is in the interest of our college and our community to change the way we do business and model sound environmental stewardship.”

CGCC’s Williams campus offers a comprehensive schedule of classes, allowing students to complete their associate degrees at CGCC without ever leaving the college's Williams Campus.

“Students have been telling us that they want to be able to take a full assortment of classes toward an associate degree here on campus," Schroeder said. “With the continued enrollment growth of the college, we’re now in a position to be able to meet that demand.”

Future projects planned for the Williams Campus include the renovation of two existing buildings and the construction of Bridget Hall, which will house a library, bookstore, food area, and space for student services such as tutoring.

In addition to offering general studies courses, the Williams Campus is home to a number of specialized programs, including aviation, nursing, electric utility technology, and automated manufacturing systems.

CGCC’s Williams Campus is located southeast of Power Road and Loop 202. For more information, access www.cgc.edu/williams.