College breaks ground on new building

SAN MARCOS — The Palomar College skyline is set to change dramatically over the next few years, with the construction of several new buildings to accommodate the college’s growing student population. As part of that process, groundbreaking for a new Multidisciplinary Instructional Building, or MIB, took place Nov. 14.
Classes housed in the new 110,629-square-foot building will include anthropology, psychology, religious studies, sociology, multicultural studies, graphic communications, economics, history, political science, accounting, business management, legal studies, and computer information systems. Instructional support space and general classrooms are also included in the square footage.
The three-story, steel-framed MIB will be located in the central part of campus, northwest of the Student Union, on grounds formerly occupied by buildings in the Earth Sciences and Life Sciences complex. Preparation for the project included demolition and removal of those buildings.
Funding for the MIB is being provided from designated state monies from Proposition 1D, augmented with some funds obtained through Proposition M, approved by district voters in November 2006.
The building construction team includes LPA, Inc., architect; C.W. Driver, construction manager/multiple prime services; RBF Consulting, civil engineer; Lee George, structural engineer; and TMAD Taylor Gains, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineer.
The MIB is projected to be completed in the spring of 2011.