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Published: 7/11/08 at 7:26 PM PST Section: News

Media Credit: Gil Riego Jr. Pierce President Robert Garber signs the final steel beam to be lifted to the highest point of the new Student Services Center, July 10. The building, estimated for completion by Fall 2009, will house many student services that are currently scattered across the campus. [Click to enlarge]

The last steel beam of the new Student Services Building was signed by involved project members at a "topping off" ceremony yesterday, commemorating the beginning of a new phase toward the year-away completion of the $18 million building.

The beam, signed by members of the Pierce College faculty, AKG Construction and Swinerton Inc., was also supposed to have been risen to the highest point of the building; however, it was not lifted because there were too many people around, according to Isabella Golovaty, senior project manager from Swinerton Inc., the company overseeing construction at Pierce.

The new building, located off the Winnetka entrance, will comprise student services that were otherwise scattered around the campus, which Joy McCaslin, vice president of student services, said "is really detrimental to our students…because it prevents them from easily accessing all the services."

Services to be moved will include Admissions and Records, Assessment, CalWorks, the Career and Transfer Centers, Counseling, Disabled Student Services, Extended Opportunity Program and Services, Financial Aid, Health Services, High School Relations, International Students and Matriculation.

"The building is also going to become the symbol that is Pierce College. It's going to be our front door," Pierce President Robert Garber said. "It's the first thing people will see when they come onto the campus."

Andrea Cohen Gehring, the chief architect on the project, said the mission-style feel of the buildings at Pierce, along with the college's landscaping, create a romantic and relaxing feel.

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