Cosumnes River College has multiple ongoing construction projects spread throughout the campus.

The goals of the construction projects are to “expand and improve constructional space, add parking spaces and improve access to facilities for all staff and students, including those with mobility challenges,” said Public Information Officer Kristie West.

The first construction project is the parking garage, which is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2013.  The garage will add approximately 2,000 parking spaces to support a future light rail extension to CRC, West said.

“It would get me downtown quicker,” said Jerry Mcnabb, a 36-year-old geography major.  “It sucks having to wait for the buses to come around.”

In addition to the parking garage, there is building upgrades and construction occurring on the northeast side of CRC.
These projects include a new greenhouse, an instructional building for welding, construction and horticulture programs and remodeling the custodial and receiving operations building.  West added that this project is set to be completed in the fall of 2012.

In efforts to upgrade facilities and bring improvements to parking and accessibility, there is a barrage of construction being done in the athletics department.

This includes a new synthetic field for the stadium, as well as new soccer, baseball and softball fields.  In addition to these improvements, landscaping and parking will be added to the athletic fields on the north side of campus, West said.

“I just think it’s odd to spend money on a new stadium when we could use that money for new teachers or classes,” said 24-year-old history major Elijah Rodriguez.

The athletics construction is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2012.

One of the newest construction projects underway is the Winn Center for Architecture and Construction, which is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2013.

This building will “provide instructional space for architecture, construction, photography, pharmacy tech and other academic programs, along with a community room and offices,” West said.

All projects have been funded by state and local bonds, local and federal funds through Sacramento Regional Transit and private donations including a $1 million donation from Winn Brothers.

The general response of all the ongoing construction is mostly positive.

“For the amount of construction taking place at one time, the response is largely favorable. Seeing the exciting new facilities developing for the college’s future with relatively little impact on normal operations,” West said.