American River College to Welcome $26.2 Million Student Center

Students at American River College won’t have to endure a crowded cafeteria in coming years as a multi-purpose 34,500-square-foot student center is slated to be built on the campus north of Carmichael by fall next year.

The $26.2 million student center, which is fully funded through a bond measure approved by voters in 2008, will house a dining area, café, student lounge, offices for the Campus Life, Community and Diversity Center and student government, club meeting rooms, and the eServices Center for student enrollment, said public information officer Stephen Peithman.

The student center will replace the cafeteria located east of the library. The old building has been closed and is scheduled for demolition this month, Peithman said.

The student center  will address an ongoing problem at ARC – not having a place to eat and study, Peithman said. It will also give students more reasons to spend more time studying on campus and less time away from the distractions at home.

“The building that we have is too small,” Peithman said, adding that the student center is about twice the size of the old cafeteria.

He also said the 50-year-old cafeteria doesn’t match the need of the school’s growing student population and lacks any energy-saving features.

The current plan promises to have an automatic power-saving system that turns electrical appliances off when not in use. Peithman said the new building will also use lighting that consumes less energy and glass walls to decrease the need for artificial lighting during the day.

 “It will save us money in the long run,” he said.

In November 2008, voters passed Measure M, a $475 million general obligation bond intended to provide funding for construction, renovation and repair of classrooms and educational facilities for the Los Rios Community College District.

It was passed by 57.9 percent of voters. To pay off the bond, residential, commercial and industrial property owners in the district have to pay an annual average of $9.10 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.

Also funded by the bond is the remodeling of the school’s library, which was opened in June 2010.

“The bond has been very good for us,” Peithman said. “Before, we’re fortunate to have one new building every 10 years through state funds.”

Peithman said the student center has gained positive feedback from faculty and students.

“It’s about time. It’s always really crowded,” said Candace Merritt, 20. “But I was kind of bummed out that it won’t be finished by the time I’m still here.”

Merritt said she hopes the bigger building won’t have the long, disordered lines common in the old cafeteria.

Razi Elliott, 25, president of the Student Fashion Council, said a space where they can hold club meetings would be the biggest advantage.

Peithman said the new building will possibly lead to more maintenance jobs. But because existing services will merely be transferred to a bigger location, there may not necessarily be a need for additional administrative staff.  

Meanwhile, food, enrollment and other campus services have been temporarily transferred to the Portable Village south of Davies Hall until the student center opens next year.