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By Fay Harvey

HOLLISTER, Calif. — Gavilan College, a community college that serves 8,600 students in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties, has completed Phase I of its new $60 million Hollister Campus that prioritizes accessibility and success for the community. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last week with stakeholders, state officials and design team members to celebrate the progress. ��

With design-build led by San Jose, Calif.-based Blach Construction and architect partners Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Quattrocchi Kwok Architects and global design firm Gensler, the new 34,000-square-foot community college offers a brightly lit welcome center enhanced by a mural in the lobby that pays homage to the town’s indigenous history. ��

Classrooms, science and computer labs and an expansive community room fill the building, while a food pantry to offset food insecurity, a lactation room and gender-neutral restrooms offer supportive spaces for students. hybrid learning is honored through accessible and modern spaces featuring natural daylighting. ��

“It has been a rewarding and successful experience collaborating with Gavilan College and the project team to design this long-awaited new campus,” said Aaron Jobson, QKA president. “Responding to a new reality where the ways in which we learn vary, the adaptable spaces are complete with advanced technology so that the experience for students both in-person and online is seamless.”��

The design team was highly collaborative and remained on budget while overcoming hurdles such as market fluctuations and heightened material costs. The team also effectively managed potentially lengthy approvals from the Division of the State Architect regarding the project’s intricate roofline design and swiftly adapted to modifications in the campus’ audio-visual system to support advanced hybrid learning environments.��

“This project is a testament to the power of teamwork. The progressive design-build approach allowed us to not only adhere to Gavilan’s budget and expedited timeline but also ensure innovation and quality of construction,” said Brad Fannin, project executive with Blach Construction. “The new Hollister campus is going to have a huge impact on local students, while also serving the community of greater San Benito County.”��

The project, which was primarily funded by county-pass bonds from 2018, is set to open in January 2025 to kick off the college’s spring term. Once the school year begins, the school will bury a time capsule that will contain historical indigenous relics and present-day mementos. Additionally, a new bus route for the City of Hollister will also be added to accommodate the new student body, adding to the campus’ goal of increased accessibility.��

Caption for Featured Image: Gavilan College held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new campus in Hollister, Calif. The project was completed in just over a year and will greatly expand higher education opportunities in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties. Photo credit: Blach Construction