For Immediate Release
December 14, 2007
Contact: John Hammond, Director
Office
of Public Relations, 210/733-2147
SAC Celebrates New Parking Garage
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| Today, San Antonio College celebrated its new Parking Garage, one of the Alamo Community Colleges' capital improvement projects funded by the passage by Bexar County voters of the $450 million ACCD bond issue in 2005. The Parking Garage, which costs $14,847,000, will be open to students, faculty and staff when they return for classes in the Spring Semester. "The new Parking Garage is a great cause for celebration," said President Robert E. Zeigler. "With our large student enrollment of about 22,000 students, plus a 14,000 annually in Continuing Education, and more than 1,000 employees, we have long needed more parking spaces." He added, "I would especially like to thank our students, faculty and staff for their patience in putting up with the parking shortage and inconveniences during the past year of construction. I am also pleased that the Parking Garage is such a well-designed and attractive addition to our college campus." Also making remarks on the occasion were ACCD Chancellor Bruce Leslie, ACCD Board Chairman Roberto Zarate, ACCD Board Member Charlie Conner, President of the ACCD Foundation Board Jackie Van De Walle, Assistant Director of Operations for Facilities J.G. (Lalo) Gomez, 3D/Foster Vice President Gene Rutherford, Travis Elementary School Principal and SAC Capital Improvement Program Advisory Committee Member Graciela De La Garza, and Student Government Association in-coming President Mary Perez. A student choir from neighboring Travis Elementary also performed at the event. The ceremony concluded with Ms. Perez and Tim Rockey, Chair of the Parking Committee and Dean of Continuing Education, driving the first car (donated for the occasion by event sponsor Cavender Cadillac) through a red ribbon into the northeast entrance of the Parking Garage. The contractor for the Parking Garage is Vaughn Construction, and the architect is O'Connell-Robertson. Construction began in February 2007 on the Parking Garage, which will have 1,100 parking spaces and five levels. The structure includes two glass-back elevators, a stairwell tower and is constructed of pre-cast concrete, with a distinctive red brick exterior that harmonizes with the other buildings on campus. Additionally, perforated metal panels and glass storefront systems will help soften the exterior. Other construction at SAC funded by the bond issue includes a new Nursing/Allied Health Building and a new Academic Complex due for completion in the fall of 2008, in addition to renovations of the Nail Technical Center, Moody Learning Center, and the current Nursing Education Building. In addition, with funding from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant, SAC is in the planning phase of expansions to the Seguir Adelante Community Center, operated by the Programs and Services for Women and Non-Traditional Students. For more details, contact President Zeigler at 210-733-2190 or John Strybos, ACCD Director of Facilities Operations & Construction Management, at 210-563-7300. |
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1300 San Pedro Ave. • San Antonio, Texas • 78212-4299 • (210) 733-2147 |