Making Solid Changes: Farewell

--FAREWELL--

Thanks for sharing this journey with us! You’ve seen our major campus overhaul from beginning to end and everything in between. We appreciate your support. And if you weren’t able to attend our Grand Reopening Block Party, then please attend one of our public tours held Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. This is the end of the blog, but you can always find MSC on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube!

 

Making Solid Changes: The Final Countdown Part III

-- THE FINAL COUNTDOWN --

 

For our second-to-last blog post, why not have a party?! MSC opened the campus to the general public on Nov. 2 to help us celebrate our Grand Re-opening and 50th Anniversary. We had face painting, live music, dancing, campus tours, food (Satay Hut and Sandra Dee's) … And most important, we all had a blast! Take a look! 

Getting the party started ... dance time!

Local businesses, nonprofits, social service organizations, and MSC staff and students manned tables. Even some of the armed forces, 104.7 KISS FM and the reigning Ms. Phoenix came out to celebrate with MSC.

MSC students and staff painted faces, explained computer support and health care.

Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us! MSC is looking forward to another great 50 years!

 

MAKING SOLID CHANGES: THE FINAL COUNTDOWN PART II

-- The Final Countdown --

 

MSC kicked off its Grand Re-opening week with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, Oct. 29. The ribbon cutting officially introduced MSC’s newly remodeled campus to the public and also coincided with MSC’s 50^th Anniversary.

It's official! MSC's newly remodeled campus is opened.

In little more than a year, MSC has come a long way! The expansion project added the Excellence Learning Center (formerly known as Building B), a 17,000 sq. ft. building which houses a community room for meetings and events, Chartwell’s, cafeteria, and classrooms for some of the Business & Technology programs, and Essential Skills.

MSC Main (formerly known as Building A) had a complete facelift. Our Student Services department became a full-service one stop for existing and prospective students. The remodel increased program space and the functionality of existing space. Through the once dull and aging campus, one will find pops of sky blue, red, fushcia and avocado green on the walls, natural light throughout offices and common areas, and comfy chairs and large screen TVs in student lounge areas.

Students have been able to enjoy the lounge areas in MSC Main.

We couldn’t have made this major renovation without Maricopa County voters, Maricopa County Community College District, and our renovation partners – Gould Evans and Jokake Construction. Throughout this blog, the tremendous amount of creativity and work that Gould Evans and Jokake Construction put into MSC is evident.

Left: MSC during its groundbreaking ceremony; right: MSC's remodeled campus.

Making Solid Changes: Countdown to Conversions at MSC

-- The Final Countdown --

We’ve been away from this blog a little too long! With construction over at MSC, our Making Solid Changes blog will be coming to an end. In the future, we hope to revamp the blog and relaunch it with a new focus. But until then, we have two more posts this week and one more post during the second week of December. The final post will go out then.*

Below you can read about Cutting Edge, a Cosmetology school for high school students in the West Valley made possible through a partnership between MSC and West-MEC, which has recently completed an expansion project. Thanks for reading and sharing our “countdown to conversions” journey!

Cutting Edge Wraps Up Construction

In October, Cutting Edge, a cosmetology school for high school students made possible through a partnership between MSC and West-MEC, completed a major expansion project. The campus, which serves over 400 junior and senior high school students per year, now has added 2,600 sq. ft. to better accommodate students and staff.

West-MEC made the campus expansion possible by purchasing the vacant space adjacent to Cutting Edge. The additional space added an extra storage room, conference room, and eight staff offices. Existing areas, such as reception/waiting, student break room, teacher room, and cosmetology supply storage, expanded. In fact, the student break room doubled in size. 

Cutting Edge now extends into a former vacant retail space (left); The reception desk (center) and waiting area (right) are much larger, open and brighter than before the remodel.

Students and staff have responded positively to the remodel. The finished campus allows them to have more functional and storage space. Before the remodel, Kim Richardson, associate director of Cosmetology at MSC and Cutting Edge, says that space was limited.

“The old student break room could accommodate no more than six to 10 students at one time. Our instructors didn’t have a comfortable working space for in-between classes. Staff had no meeting space, and many didn't have offices,” says Richardson.

Cutting Edge went to having very little space for its support staff to now being spacious, including new offices and storage.

MSC and the Cutting Edge staff are grateful to West-MEC, especially Greg Donovan, West-MEC’s superintendent, for making the remodel possible and to Jokake Construction, the contractor, for staying on schedule.

*This has been edited to reflect that the actual last post will be published during the second week of December.

Making Solid Changes: Countdown to Conversions at MSC

-- DAY 455--

A lot of physical changes have occurred since this blog was last updated and things seem to be on schedule for MSC’s Grand Re-opening next month! The ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, Oct. 29 and our huge Block Party celebration on Friday, Nov. 2 from 4 - 8 p.m., which you are all invited! Call 602.238.4301 for more information.

The NEW and IMPROVED MSC MAIN

(formerly called Building A)

Students using their newly renovated workspace.



 Meat Cutting is open and ready for business! The remodeling has created more space for students. It offers much more functional workspace and a quaint shopping area for the public. The old shop had plain white walls. The new area is bright with a green accent wall. Large windows still allow customers to see students cutting the meat. And with MSC’s extended program hours, customers can now shop from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Remember, though, Meat Cutting is closed from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. for lunch. Even our hardworking students have to eat sometime!









Meat Cutting's new store area is both bright and spacious.



The backroom in Meat Cutting is brighter and much more functional than before the remodel.

Our NEW Excellence Learning Center
(formerly called Building B)

Anyone who has recently walked inside of Building B has probably noticed that Jokake has been hard at work. The space for the soon-to-be-opened Chartwells has been quickly filling with kitchen supplies and serving stations. Chartwells will serve sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. As expected with construction, dates have shifted but hopefully it will be ready to serve students by October 1st.

The other noticeable change is the continued work on the large area next to the cafeteria that will be new meeting space. What makes this area useful is that it can be used for small meetings or large events because the one large room can easily be divided into three smaller ones with the use of the collapsible room dividers. It may be hard to imagine now, but in another month, these rooms should be in full use. Yea for the MSC community!


The community room ceiling has been completed. Next will be the floors.


And our Essential Skills department has received new furniture! Now staff has more room for storage and their new desks and shelving better coordinate with the openness and brightness of the rest of Essential Skills.


Essential Skills now have bookshelves and additional cabinet space to house more materials.



Our goal is to update the blog at least once every two weeks, so look for more frequent updates.

Making Solid Changes: Countdown to Conversions at MSC

By: Tony Grandlienard

--DAY 414--

"Education, technology and school construction go together. Modernization, updating education facilities, and making a capital investment in education are all included." - Major Owens

Welcome to MSC!

We're approaching the home stretch. Each day major renovations near completion as we look forward to the grand re-opening in late October. 

Good News, We've Moved.

If you haven't already heard, or walked around campus lately, we have officially moved into Building A! Although it's not completely finished, many programs and departments have finally made their last move. That means no more working out of boxes in unfinished, crammed spaces. Instead, our patience has paid off as the north end of Building A cozies up in their new spaces, accompanied by new furniture and equipment. Below are all the programs and departments that have officially moved into their new spaces.

       Programs & Departments

• Administration                                                                
• Aesthetician 
• Business Services
• Cosmetology 
• Enrollment Services
• Financial Aid
• Ikon Copy Center (Building B)*
• Marketing and Recruitment
• Public Safety
• Workforce Development

        *All of the following can be found on the North (front) end of Building A except Ikon.

General Updates

Building B is being reconstructed just as fast as Student Services moved out of it. The vacant space (where enrollment and financial aid were) is now under construction to become the future site of the student cafeteria and community room. 

Future community room.

New desks in Enrollment Services department.

The new main lobby and entrance to the Student Services Building is refreshingly colorful. Once you walk in you become surrounded by pops of red, orange and gray on couches, carpet, desks, and more. The new lobby is spacious with additional computers to help give students the resources they need to check financial aid or enroll in a program. A few steps away from the new lobby is the Cosmetology Salon & Spa. Improved by a new front-desk entrance and hardwood-like floors, you'd swear you're in one of the Valley's top salons, and you are! The new  space is huge, with more working stations, new sinks, new chairs, and a new aura that will change the way you see MSC Cosmetology.

Students at work in their new Cosmetology space.

Make your way outside of the Cosmetology space down the newly-tiled hallway, and you'll see all of the new department offices that house Administration, Workforce Development, and more.

Lastly, further down south in the center of Building A, you'll notice the future home of Meat Cutting. All the glass walls are up. You can gaze into the green deli space that will soon be filled with fresh meat for anyone to purchase.

Future site of Meat Cutting.

For all news, contests, photos on MSC and Maricopa Community Colleges follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. For more information visit us online at www.maricopaskillcenter.com or call 602.238.4300.

Thanks for reading, have a great day!

Making Solid Changes: Countdown to Conversions at MSC

By: Tony Grandlienard

--DAY 379--

One year and counting.

Building B gets a splash of color with its new metal roof panels.

For over 365 days now Jokake Construction crews have been working on the expansion and reconstruction of our campus. June 20, 2012, officially marked the kickoff of construction from a year ago when MSC had a ground breaking ceremony on what is now Building B. 

Although we’ve been in Building B for a few months now, the biggest changes are yet to come as Building A gets set for move-in over the next month. 

So, are you ready? Excited? If not, I hope these pictures speak for themselves. 

Cosmetology's new space (from left to right)  - New stations, new wash stations, new classrooms.

The Current - A.K.A. Building A

The clock is ticking on Building A.  As you can see above, it has come a long way since its days without walls and a roof. Most major updates (electric work, drywall, flooring, paint, plumbing, etc.) are near completion. The classrooms and faculty offices have most of their carpet, doors and windows completed and as of today, are being furnished with new desks and chairs.

The majority of the front section of Building A will be for staff, career services, cosmetology, and the aesthetictian program. 

Other Updates 

As for the rest of MSC's campus there's not much. However, if you're walking around campus, look up. You'll find that all the red and silver metal roof coverings have been completed, giving us that desperately-needed summer shade. 

  

New parts of campus. (Click to enlarge)

Next time to read we'll be live from Building A with all new updates and photos! Until then stay tuned. For all news, contests, photos on MSC and Maricopa Community Colleges follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. For more information visit us online at www.maricopaskillcenter.com or call 602.238.4300.

Thanks for reading, have a great day!

Making Solid Changes: Countdown to Conversions at MSC

By: Tony Grandlienard

--DAY 344--

Bob Dylan once said, "Times, they are a-changin'." 

As we approach June, we near the one-year mark since we first began construction and my, how things really have changed. 
 

Front of Building A

I won't waste your time, nothing has changed in Building B. However, the same cannot be said about the old building, unofficially titled Building A (don't get the two mixed up). As a reminder Building A is the original building on the east side of campus. Building B is the brand new building on the west side. 

The Current - A.K.A. Building A

The first thing you'll notice while driving by is how similar the Building A resembles Building B. Both buildings are concrete with symmetrical windows and are relatively the same shape. The building's outside appearance has dramatically improved. From Buckeye, you can see that all the walls are up and the windows are near ready for installation. But the interior of Building A is even more impressive. All the drywall is up while Jokake Construction crews are installing insulation, flooring, and paint. They will continue to work on the structure of the classrooms and follow up with electric work and the finishing of ventilation. 

Fresh paint in Building A gives life to the new hallway

Light shines through a new classroom in Building A

New cosmetology stations

Program Updates

Meat Cutting: Finally, after nearly a year of construction the last program moved out of their space in preparation for construction. However, this renovation period comes at a cost. Since there is no swing space for meat cutting to move to, they are forced to temporarily shut down their program until construction is complete. Because the program requires a cold environment and special equipment, there was no opportunity to continue somewhere else on campus. Completion of the new meat cutting department should be completed by August. 

R.I.P. old meat cutting classroom

Let's Get Creative

I'm just as tired of hearing the name Building A and Building B as you are. Where's the creativity? Couldn't we come up with a better name? Well yes, we are, and we want your help. Give us your best ideas on naming the buildings by posting on our Facebook wall! We will consider all ideas. Remember, this is your campus, you pay for your education, you should have a say.

For all news, contests, photos on MSC and Maricopa Community Colleges follow us on Twitter, and Google+. For more information visit us online at www.maricopaskillcenter.com or call 602.238.4300.

Thanks for reading. Have a great day and stay hydrated! 

Making Solid Changes: Countdown to Conversions at MSC

By: Tony Grandlienard

--DAY 323--

"The road to success is always under construction." - Lily Tomlin.

A look at east and west sides of the new building.

Tomlin shares the same goals as MSC, as we continue to work toward success and development. Over the past month there have not been too many visible construction changes to either building, but MSC still has its fair share of updates on our road to success.

The Current

Remember when you were in class and had to go to the bathroom really bad? Remember dreading that long walk/sprint to the other side of campus because there is only one bathroom in each building? 

Well, that pain is over. MSC has opened its newest restroom in the middle of Building A, next to Meat Cutting. We will no longer have to feel like a racehorse, Seabiscuiting our way down the hallways. We figured this should make life a little nicer, and I'm sure your bladder will appreciate the good news also. 

New bathrooms

In addition to our glorified new restroom, there have been other updates as well. Our giant vacant opening on the north side of the building is beginning to close. Brick by brick, half of the front entrance of Building A progresses. Inside, Jokake Construction is still in the process of installing metal framing, drywall, electric work, ventilation, and insulation. Heading to the south side of Building A, two programs have moved - Cosmetology/Aesthetican and Auto Body.

Building B(eautiful)

The only update in Building B is the installation of shading. The steel framing that surrounds the building allows the sun to shine right through. Jokake Construction crews are now installing metal panels underneath to barricade sunshine. Since summer is knocking on the door, staying cool is crucial, and these panels will provide plenty of shade.

Before and after the shading panels

For all news, contests, photos on MSC and Maricopa Community Colleges follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. For more information visit us online at www.maricopaskillcenter.com or call 602.238.4300.

Thanks for reading, have a great day!

Making Solid Changes: Countdown to Conversions at MSC

By: Tony Grandlienard

--DAY 295--

Yes. We are still open. 

Don't be deceived by the apocalyptic view you get from your car window as you drive down Buckeye Road. As you stroll pass MSC, you'll notice that the front of the old building is, well...missing. Let's be real, it looks like the campus has been destroyed and it could possibly pass as the starting scene for the next season of The Walking Dead (an apocalyptic zombie show), not to scare you away.

But don't let that stop you from coming in! We are still the same people and are willing to help you succeed. This is just a part of our expansion and reconstruction phase. Jokake Construction will have all the walls finished by our next post to begin work on the interior.

View of old building from Buckeye Rd.

The Current

The reconstruction of the old building is the last major demolition crews have to make before the reopening. Since the old building is the current focus of construction, there are no new updates for Building B, besides the addition of new tables (inside and outside) and landscape gravel.

New tables inside the temporary cafeteria

New exterior tables sit under the sun

As most of you have probably noticed, crews have closed the entrance from the north of the old building. Walls have become barriers until the construction is finished on the North-end. On the South-end, Welding is only weeks away from moving into their new, permanent space. The only other major move was Cosmetology and Aesthetician to their temporary spaces near Meat Cutting.

View from parking lot

For all news, contests, photos on MSC and Maricopa Community Colleges follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. For more information visit us online at www.maricopaskillcenter.com or call 602.238.4300.

Making Solid Changes: Countdown to Conversions at MSC

By: Tony Grandlienard

--DAY 260--

I'll be brief here: the new building is amazing. 

Throughout the past month MSC has made many groundbreaking changes, the biggest being the official move into the new building. 

New red chairs surround wooden tables in the new building

Also titled "Building B," the new building houses various programs who have moved from the the old building. Wandering the halls you probably have noticed empty rooms and missing services. Well, they are all in the new building. Some programs are here permanently, while others are here until the summer, but for future reference, if you can't seem to find a program or staff service, head to the new building. And don't hesitate to ask someone for directions. The following have moved into Building B:

Department

• Admissions and Records
• Financial Aid
• Business Office
• Marketing and Recruitment
• Workforce Development
• Career Services
• Administration
• Human Resources

Programs

• Accounting
• Career Readiness
• Computer Foundations
• Customer Service
• Legal Administrative Assistant 

New Computer Foundations classroom

Getting Around Campus

Entrances to Building B can be found in the former student lounge through the wooden door. Note that there are no entrances from the north parking lot. To enter the new building, you must either come from the West parking lot on 12th St. (which is open to everyone) or you have to walk through the old building.

The building itself is very nice. Although it is not 100% complete, the majority of the construction has ocurred. Here are updates on Building B:

- New student lounge with new chairs

- Vending machines now located in Building B

- New red paint in halls and classrooms

- New cushioned benches in hallways

- New furniture in classrooms

- Overall new classrooms and bigger space for students

Newly cushioned benches align in hallway

The Current

Besides moving, updates have also occurred in the old building. The former Computer Support Specialist classroom is coming along as Jokake continues installing drywall and insulation.

Our Health Care program is the major change in the current building. Health Care is still moving into its new, permanent space, but most construction is complete. The facility is beautiful and a major upgrade from Health Care's former space. However, please remember we will not offer the Licensed Practical Nursing program once current students graduate.

New Health Care classroom

Health Care's new front desk

Learn More!

For all news, contests, photos on MSC and Maricopa Community Colleges, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For more information visit us online at www.maricopaskillcenter.com or call 602.238.4300.

Thanks for reading; have a great day!