College says it will turn it into a “Center for Learning & Innovation” to be used by students and community members

The Yavapai Community College Governing Board is poised to approve spending $15.3 million on renovating Building 19 on the Prescott Campus over three years beginning with the 2023-24 academic year.  It is anticipated that the approval will come at the budget meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 16 on the Prescott Campus.

The proposal for the $15.3 million project was floated to the Governing Board at both the March and April Board meetings. The Prescott based executives encountered no serious reservations or opposition to the expenditure.  There were only a handful of questions, if that. 

The College says that the renovation will turn the library into a hub for students and community members on the Prescott Campus.  Currently, the College says space is being underutilized and the library is dated.

Classrooms and laboratories on the 2nd floor are proposed to be re-purposed into a modern Learning Commons for tutoring and academic support with open collaboration areas, study rooms, and staff offices.  Construction will most likely include a digital media studio, TELS staff offices, and a technology helpdesk, managed by ITS.

PAC remodel includes new  HVAC units and technology allowing  Community College to tailor heating and cooling needs for every performance; several other projects on Prescott Campus and around the District continue

Performing Arts Center.

The extensive renovation on the  Performing Arts Center on the Prescott Campus is now complete.   After what the Community College describes as “extensive renovation,”  one of the last completed projects was adding   14 new HVAC units at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars.  New  Air Handler units were also  installed.   With improved  technology  and increased monitoring ability, these new units will help reduce overall energy consumption on  campus. By using the  Building Automation System, the Community College  will be able to tailor the heating and cooling needs so that the audience will be  comfortable for every performance.

Baseball Field Repair on Prescott Campus. The baseball field on the Prescott Campus was extensively damaged by flash flooding in the summer.  During September and October, grading, leveling, and sub-base preparation took place at the field. Along with site leveling, new sod was installed in October.  

New trail and two walking bridges being built on Prescott Campus.

A new trail is being constructed that will provide an access trail from Sheldon Street to the baseball field along the Prescott west campus boundary, behind the Performing Arts Center and Sculpture Garden. The scope of this work includes a nature trail with two bridges to span the creek that winds through the area. Staff will be spreading rock and decomposed granite on the new trail during the month of January.

The Community College reports that once completed, the project will open up this area for walking while improving visibility to help ensure safety and improve site drainage during flash flooding.

Expanding cafeteria at Career and Technical Education Center at the Prescott airport.

Work is projected to begin in the spring of 2022 at CTEC to increase space for more  seating in the dining area.

Prescott Valley Center has two marquees installed; work continues on access road; new LED lighting in place.

Construction of the deceleration lane off Glassford Hill Road (southbound) at the Prescott Valley Center is complete. Work continues with the Fain Signature Group to construct the shared access road, eventually connecting to the Prescott Valley Center parking lot. Both marquees are now installed and display  general information about Yavapai College and the Prescott Valley Center.

LED parking lot lighting has been installed. It is anticipated that one will see brighter lighting and a 40% reduction in energy consumption over the existing metal halide and high-pressure sodium lights.

Verde Valley Campus has renovation for new Brewing program.

Renovations of Building G, rooms 111 and 118 for the new Brewing program were completed. They included new stainless steel wall treatment and sinks for brewing.

New LED lighting being added to reduce costs by 80%,  Verde Valley Campus Art Gallery Pergola complete, CTE Verde Campus building construction continues, Building 16 Technical Theater going up

A number of construction projects in the Yavapai Community College District are completed or nearing completion.   On the Prescott Campus, the LED installation of outside lights is about complete.  It is anticipated that the new lights will reduce by  80% energy consumption after replacement of the existing metal halide and high-pressure sodium lights. The new lights will also be much brighter than the old.

The Pergola, which was added to the small Verde Valley Campus Art Gallery, has been completed.  Construction on the 10,000 square foot Career and Technical Education building continues with completion expected by the fall 2021.

Finally, construction of the Technical Theatre addition to the Performing Arts Center is on track. It is expected to be completed in time for the fall 2021 classes.

Photos taken by Community College and found in monthly Facilities Management Newsletter.

Allows students greater access to vineyard

Yavapai Community College has completed construction of a gravel access road to the upper vineyard on the Verde Campus.  The new road will provide students with greater access to the upper vineyard directly from the Verde Valley Campus.

The photo below was reproduced from the Community College March Facilities Management Newsletter.

Claims to be one of the fastest and most accurate human temperature testing devices around

Wello Machine from Wello.

Yavapai  Community College has installed a Wello machine in Building “L” that will be used for daily temperature checks.  The screening kiosk claims to be one of the fastest and most accurate systems available.

Wello says that as businesses and other entities open up, one of the ways to create a “safer, orderly environment” is to test for a fever.   The  product uses  thermal infrared sensors to perform, which according to the  manufacturer, provide “ efficient, accurate temperature readings instantly.”  The system is non-contact for the student and “does not require any participation.”  

Project moving ahead to beat reopening of Campuses and Centers and deal with Covid-19

Yavapai Community College is moving ahead quickly to achieve its goal of becoming a “touchless campus.”  The goal is to help prevent the spread of Covid-19 among students, staff, faculty and visitors. 

Listed below are some of the efforts being made as described by Scott Blevins, the Facilities Manager, Plant & Process Engineer.

1. Restrooms with doors that pull inward now have a foot pull if you would like to avoid touching the handle.
2. Approximately 75% of toilet and urinal flush valves are now touchless.
3. Touchless faucet installation is just getting underway.
4. Touchless paper towel dispensers are due in July and installation will start shortly after arrival.
5. Hand sanitizer stations are slowly coming in and will start getting installed over the next few weeks, starting with locations that have in-person classes planned for the fall semester.
6. Purchasing some of the first continuously Self-Cleaning Surface products for various applications including:
   1. NanoSeptic door handle wraps for entrances at high use public buildings.
   2. NanoSeptic touch screen covers for spaces that are open in the fall.
   3. NanoSeptic mouse pads

According to Mr. Bevens, the College “approved the ordering and installation of NanoSeptic Self-Cleaning Surface products for various applications. We are purchasing door handle wraps for entrances at high use public buildings, touch screen covers for spaces that are open in the fall, and mousepads for the computer commons and libraries. “NanoSeptic Skins and Mats turn dirty, high traffic, public touchpoints into continuously self-cleaning surfaces. Powered by light, NanoSeptic surfaces utilize mineral nanocrystals, which create a powerful oxidation reaction. Working 24/7, the surface continually oxidizes organic contaminants. Unlike traditional disinfectants and cleaners, the NanoSeptic surface uses no poisons, heavy metals or chemicals, and nothing is released from the surface since the nano-crystals are molecularly bonded to the material.”