Superintendent-President Lori Gaskin proposed a $16 million building on West Campus at Monday, Sept. 24, Board of Trustees Facilities Committee meeting.

The proposal is a result of a structural assessment of the 28 East Campus Classrooms, 19 of which were not found compliant with safety regulations.

“These [portable buildings] are pretty awful, and we need to do something on a more permanent basis,” said Gaskin. “We have the ability to make a difference on this campus, to basically take the blight away.”

The funding for the proposed 30,000 square foot building would come from the remaining Measure V funds and is dependent on the passing of Proposition 30. Construction time is estimated at two to three years.

In addition to the structural assessment, the college also expects to receive a letter from the California Coastal Commission demanding that the portables be removed. The 28 buildings are an estimated 26,000 square feet and the college hopes to have them removed within the next few years.

The portables have been used extensively as swing space for misplaced classes during construction, and our currently being used for courses that would typically take place in the Humanities Building. With recent construction, the college has used the classrooms more than they originally hoped.

“We said that once we get through the need for swing space, then we would no longer need the buildings,” Joe Sullivan, vice president of business services said. “Hopefully we can remove every portable off the campus.”

According to Gaskin, the new building would replace the portables adjacent to the Garvin Theatre. The college also plans to add space by moving credit courses into the Schott and Wake centers, where Continuing Ed classes are currently held.