Las Positas College marked the start of construction on three new academic buildings with an in-person ceremony on campus last Friday.

The school will soon have an academic support and office building, public safety complex (PSC)/advanced manufacturing and transportation (AMT) building and an agriculture sciences: horticulture building.

These new developments were funded by Measure A, a $950 million bond for the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District that was approved by voters in 2016, which allows the schools to upgrade technology and science labs and aging classrooms, retrofit buildings for improved safety and security, and acquire facilities and equipment.

The academic support and office building -- which was designed by LPAS Architecture & Designer -- will create 88,000 square feet for a new English center, math center, math emporium, computer science center, computer labs, classrooms, tutoring with study areas, networking, maker space and faculty offices, LPC officials said.

The building will also house expanded library functions, including the reference desk, study areas, new staff offices and library operational support spaces.

Designed by Lionakis, the new PSC and AMT building will be together to allow for shared linkages between the various programs, classrooms and event spaces, according to LPC officials.

The PSC project consists of an EMS simulation lab and situation rooms, fire training with "Class A" burn areas and fire training apparatus. The AMT project will include an automotive tech facility, welding lab, classrooms and lab spaces to provide training of advanced manufacturing processes and faculty offices.

The agriculture sciences: horticulture facility will include new classrooms, labs, offices and a resource area as well as a greenhouse, shade structure and a parking lot to support 60 new parking spaces. The outdoor growing areas will have soil bins, equipment storage and an outdoor learning patio.

The academic support and office building and the PSC/AMT building are both estimated to be completed by summer 2023. The agriculture sciences: horticulture project is estimated to be completed by summer 2022.

Several guest speakers shared remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony, including LPC President Dyrell Foster and District Chancellor Ronald P. Gerhard.

Other speakers included Nan Ho, dean of science, technology, engineering and mathematics; Erick Bell, interim dean of public safety, advanced manufacturing, transportation, health and kinesiology (PATH); Deputy Fire Chief Aaron Lacey of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department; Jin Tsubota, faculty coordinator/instructor at the Tutorial Center; Amy Mattern, dean of arts and humanities; Paula Rose, senior instructional assistant for mathematics; and Kyle Johnson, president of LPC student government.

Officials said that future projects under Measure A include the agriculture sciences: viticulture building, which will replace existing facilities. The new facility will be adjacent to the horticulture building and share parking. The project will include a classroom, offices and resource area, a winemaking facility with a small lab, a crush pad, equipment storage, cold storage and an outdoor patio. Construction is anticipated to begin late spring 2022.