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This project is part of the $185 million 2004 Measure G Bond projects passed by 65.39 percent of the voters in November 2004 for the construction of:

• Building art, science and math classrooms and labs;
• Expanding healthcare job training facilities;
• Upgrading, acquiring, constructing and equipping facilities, sites and classrooms.

“The project consists of two buildings; the two-story Fine Arts building and the three-story Multi-Disciplinary building,” said Ken Fruen, onsite superintendent for Blach Construction. “The project will total over 53,000 square feet. The project broke ground in April of this year and is scheduled for completion by the end of summer 2012.”

The last 31-foot-long, 16-inch-high, 7-inch-wide and 1,300-pound beam was hoisted and set firmly in place by two of the project’s iron workers during the ceremony

Vice President of Administrative Services Greg Nelson gave a brief history of the topping out ceremony, saying “The custom is credited to the Vikings as a ceremony of thanks and respect to their Norse gods. The ceremony was probably imported to the United States by Norwegian iron workers.”

Regarding the budget, Nelson said, “The cost of the building is 28.9 million. We are under budget and have reinvested the savings back into solar panels for greater energy efficiency.”

The building was “awarded the Public Civic project of the year 2011 by the San Jose Business Journal,” Said Barbra Kavalier, San Jose City College president. “The construction of this building signifies our commitment to creating quality learning environments for our students … The Fine Arts and Multidisciplinary building have a unique and environmental design, and I am proud to say we anticipate it to receive the leadership in energy and environmental design gold certification.”

SJEVCCD Chancellor Rita Cepeda reminded the audience, “buildings are not merely structures of brick and mortar but they are vessels of the transmission of knowledge designed with the learner and teacher in mind. This structure is worthy of the talents of its students and faculty.”

This project “is a once-in-a-lifetime event, it is something special. It will advance the Fine Arts for the benefit of our students and the community.” said Pat Gerster, dean of Humanities and Social Science.

“Where many districts are struggling to find money to keep their existing buildings maintained, we have money to build a fine building,” said Nicholas Akinkuoya, vice president of Academic Affairs. “We got a new building going on, we have a lot to be thankful for.”

“It truly has been fun to become a partner (with SJCC) and see dreams and visions come to completion,” said Ken Schroeder of Blach Construction. “It is a joy to see excitement of faculty and students.”