The $29 million dollar renovation of Long Beach City College’s Building J is creeping closer to completion and expected to open in January of 2020.
Construction manager John Duong gave a tour of the building describing the process and complexity of the project.
Doung shared how they approached the renovations, saying “the building has good bones, it’s one of the best auditoriums, it will have lots of updates and more functionally for this space.”
Along with the installation of an elevator, the renovated building features hanging speakers, a control booth, more light spots, and portable orchestra.
When asked what the biggest challenge has been Doung replied, “There’s a lot going on and working on an active campus is always juggling getting work done while not disturbing as well as rerouting parking”.
The construction has faced some delays and even a neighborhood complaint, but Doung said “That’s construction, it’s complicated.”
Theater staff Daron Sorg describes challenges posed by the renovation, saying “We’ve lost performance space and we’re everywhere”.
Sorg said that dance and theater have faced challenges finding spaces to perform, saying, “The next dance concert will be at Millikan High, we’ve used the Downey Civic Center, and we went to Wilson High last semester.”
Sorg also said that it was a challenge emptying the building. “If we left anything behind it would be considered trash, and when they’re done building we have to move everything back”.
Music major and first-year student Ashley Flynn shares her thoughts on the J building. “My professors are excited about it, I hope it’s a better creative space.”
Theater Building J has been under construction since January 2018 with an expected completion date in January 2020 and available for class occupation in Fall 2020.
Doung looks forward to working further to further improve LBCC. “The aquatics and kinesiology building is next.”