Santa Monica College held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Liberal Arts Building, a $26.6 million complex that replaces a structure that was heavily damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, on Tuesday, June 7.
Construction of the project is being done in two phases, with completion expected in April 2007.
The new 53,000-square-foot complex has been designed as two units — each with three stories and basement — that will be connected by pedestrian bridges and walkways. It will be located just north of Parking Structure C. The complex will house the history, social science and psychology departments.
It was designed by Renzo Zecchetto Architects of Santa Monica. The firm is also designing the performing arts complex at SMC’s Madison campus.Funding for the building came from four sources: City of Santa Monica Earthquake Redevelopment Project funds ($10.2 million), Federal Emergency Management Agency ($3.08 million), the state ($4.4 million), and Measure U, the 2002 Santa Monica-Malibu bond measure ($8.9 million).
