MADERA – The State Center Community College District broke ground Friday for the Academic Village 2 building at Madera Community College, paid for through Measure C funding. The new Academic Village 2 building will house general education classrooms, distance learning classrooms, a student success center, an expanded library, and labs for nursing, computers, and criminology. Plans also include expanded parking on the west side of campus.
In November 2017, Darden Architects was approved as the project architect. Academic Village 2 was approved by DSA on January 26, 2021. BMY Construction Group, Inc. was awarded the contract on April 6, 2021. The $35M project is anticipated to open in the fiscal year 2022-2023.
“As the newest community college in California, and the only college in Madera County, these new facilities will help us meet the needs of the community we serve,” said Ángel Reyna, president, Madera Community College. “We are grateful for the community support our students receive through the Measure C facilities bond.”
Measure C, a $485 million facilities bond, passed in June 2016. This investment is bringing capital projects to Fresno City College, Reedley College, Clovis Community College, Madera Community College Center, Madera Community College at Oakhurst, and the Career & Technology Center.
The State Center Community College District began offering classes at Madera High School with 158 students enrolled in 19 evening classes in spring 1985. The Madera Community College Center (MCCC) relocated to a portable building at James Madison Elementary School in summer 1989.
In November 1993, Chancellor Dr. Bill F. Stewart and Vice Chancellor of External Operations Dr. Tom Crow accepted a donation of 114 acres from five local landowners for the current campus. Those landowners include Logoluso Farms, Pistoresi Farms, Inc., Richburg Properties, Inc., Mr. Roy Spomer, and Mr. Ted Takahashi.
In August 1996, the Madera Community College Center opened with one permanent, multi-purpose building that holds the student bookstore, food services, student activities center and a large instruction classroom. There were also 21 portable classrooms and computer labs. MCCC offered more than 220 classes and was serving more than 1,500 students.
In August 2000, The Academic/Administrative permanent 26,000 sq. ft. building opened with computer labs, administrative offices, faculty offices, distance learning classrooms, a 250-seat auditorium, and a computer-based library. A dedication ceremony was held October 24, 2017, to rename this building the Dr. Bill F. Stewart Administration Building.
In January 2004, Academic Village 1 opened. This 50,000 sq. ft. complex includes science, chemistry and biology labs; a licensed vocational nursing skills lab; computer labs; art labs; general purpose classrooms; distance education classrooms; a 150-seat assembly hall; and office space. The Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CAM) opened in fall 2009 to support maintenance mechanic and welding programs.
In 2016, Measure C passed with overwhelming support bringing new and modernized buildings to all of the SCCCD colleges and centers. In October 2018, MCCC saw the inaugural Measure C groundbreaking for the Center for Agriculture and Technology Building.
Madera Community College became California’s 116th community college in July 2020. Today marks the groundbreaking of Academic Village 2. The new Academic Village 2 will house general education classrooms, distance learning classrooms, a student success center, an expanded library, and labs for nursing, computers, and criminology.
State Center Community College District
State Center Community College District (SCCCD) includes Fresno City College, Reedley College, Clovis Community College, Madera Community College, Madera Community College at Oakhurst, and the Career & Technology Center. SCCCD serves approximately 1.7 million people across more than 5,500 square miles, including most of Fresno and Madera counties and parts of Kings and Tulare counties.
