On Thursday, an estimate of 100 people gathered to witness LBCC hositng a ribbon ceremony, celebrating the completion of the new M building located on the LAC campus.
LBCC’s board members, directors and faculty presented the final touches of LBCC’s new M building also named the “Disabled Students Programs and Services” building. A neighboring office of the “Student Success Center’s Writing and Reading Center”.
“As a person who has done a lot of speaking and advocacy and representation work I’ve always said that blind people are just people and that disabled people are just people,” said Rachel Ng, a blind student who spoke at the ceremony.
“Being included is important and I am and I’m sure many disabled students are appreciative of that,” added Ng.
The project was the first state funded design project in California, a 77 million dollar project that brought together LBCC and LBC in its ribbon ceremony. The three-story-building, 82,000 square feet, took over two years to complete.
The M building will be the new home office for the Communications Department. Samira Harah, head of the department explained that it’s been over ten years since the department had its own permanent office.
Most of the state’s money was used to house the science and math department. With the building’s multi use, it will offer prep courses for students seeking analytics to teach in the K-12 fields.
Additional features are its cutting edge technology, comfortable new chairs and desks, as well as its well designed bathrooms. All amenities that are designed to keep the student and faculty happy with their time at LBCC.
In the ceremony, Mike Munoz, the superintendent-president of LBCC, mentioned the building’s new and advanced designs were made using different methods. In collaboration with HPI Architecture and C.W. Driver for contracting the construction of the new M building.
New technology such as computers will allow students and teachers to communicate from home. Where many online and hybrid courses are taking place. “Students can gather and meet while at home doing online courses,” Munoz announced.
The M building will be a perfect place for students who struggle with English or are trying to learn a new language. It will also hold other services such as computer labs, and open lab hours where people can go in to study or relax.
In addition, the new technology will help students with disabilities have access to classrooms, supplies and socialize.
The ceremony ended with the cutting of a ribbon, where faculty and its attendees gathered to see the cutting. It was all smiles in the end of the event, as catering with cake and more refreshments were served.