From Bunker to Brilliance: Highland Campus phase II underway

As Austin Community College’s Highland Campus continues to attract both students and national acclaim, work is underway on the next phase of ACC’s project to transform a 44-year-old shopping mall into a regional center for workforce training and lifelong learning.

“In less than a year, the Highland Campus has served thousands of students and is being recognized for setting new standards for educational spaces,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC President/CEO. “The spaces proposed in phase II will extend that ‘wow factor.’ ”

Supported by $152 million in bond funding approved last fall, phase II of the Highland redevelopment comprises roughly 415,000 square feet and will expand campus capacity to an estimated 13,000 students.

Some career-technical programs will relocate from other campuses to ACC Highland to create new opportunities for integrated learning. ACC facilities staff and various college departments are defining space and resource requirements. Plans will be fine-tuned and adapted as designs are finalized. (See timeline below.)

ACC Highland Master Plan Rendering. Courtesy: O’Connell Robertson; Pfeiffer Partners

The Highland Campus master plan received a Citation of Excellence from the publication Learning by Design. (Renderings courtesy O’Connell Robertson; Pfeiffer
Partners.)

“Because so many programs share teaching methods and technologies, locating them under one very large roof will create synergies that will lead to more vibrant programs,” says Dr. Charles Cook, ACC executive vice president and provost.

Highland Mall will close to the public on April 30 so pre-construction work and abatement can begin.

Follow the progress of the phase II renovations on the bond construction update website.

Phase II highlights

Creative Digital Media Center (approx. 155,000 gross square feet)

A new creative media center will prepare students for jobs in the information technology and creative sectors – two critical components of the regional economy that increasingly are intertwined.

The center will provide more space, state-of-the-art equipment, and collaborative opportunities for programs currently located on various campuses. These include architectural and engineering computer-aided design; computer programming; fine arts; performing arts; gaming technology; music business; performance & technology; photography; radio, television, & film; and visual communications.

Features include recording studios; MIDI/sync/music lab; television studio; film and mixed-media production studio; photography studio; 2D & 3D animation labs; advanced gaming lab; printmaking, sculpture, and ceramic studios; ensemble and choral rehearsal halls; soundproof practice rooms; dance and acting studios.

Health Sciences/STEM Regional Simulation Center (approx. 27,000 gross square feet)

With the aging population nationwide and the new Dell Medical School locally, the demand for nurses and other healthcare workers is expected to grow. At state-of-the-art Highland Campus facilities, health science students will be able to complete required clinical training on-site in simulation centers with computerized mannequins that replicate interaction with real patients.

Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management (approx. 25,000 gross square feet)

By tripling its space for culinary arts instruction, ACC will be able to train more students faster for jobs in the food service industry – considered by some to be as vital to the local economy as the creative sector. Culinary, hospitality management, and event planning programs will be better equipped to be the provider of choice for ACC events. A full-service restaurant will offer both training and employment opportunities for students.

Planned features include a production kitchen with cooking and preparation spaces and bakery; restaurant with lobby; dining space for up to 75 people; performance stage; outdoor seating and to-go areas; mock hotel room and front office.

The Highland Campus was awarded a 2015 Impact Award from the Urban Land Institute of Austin. Read about the recognition.

Continuing Education (approx. 14,300 gross square feet)

ACC’s CE Division will have a significant presence at Highland Campus with spaces and labs to support expanded offerings in healthcare, culinary, cosmetology, and massage therapy. Phase II projects include computer lab and classroom space, along with administrative areas.

Regional Workforce Center (approx. 41,400 gross square feet)

A Regional Workforce Center will feature flexible space that can be quickly modified to provide customized training and/or manufacturing space for specific local job market needs. The college expects to outfit the space with equipment such CAD stations, 3D printers, CNC machining tools, laser cutters, robots, and precision measurement equipment that could be used by various ACC credit and CE programs, local businesses, high school students, incubating companies, and others.

Sustainability standards

The Highland project will follow best practices in sustainable design and construction when possible. Large roof areas may support rainwater harvesting, solar arrays, or daylight harvesting.

Phase II timeline

Before design and construction begins, the building will undergo abatement to remove hazardous materials – standard procedure in older structures – and its roof will be replaced. Before demolition and abatement begins, crews must build a wall to seal off the construction area and add elevators, corridors, and restrooms. Once these steps are completed, construction will take approximately two years.

Following is the tentative timeline for the phase II:

Spring 2015

  • Highland Mall closes to the public. Existing campus spaces and offices in the northeast section remain open.
  • Pre-construction modifications begin.
  • Architect proposals presented to ACC Board of Trustees.

Summer 2015

  • Hazardous materials abatement begins.
  • Architectural firm selected.
  • Project managers and departments further define space needs.
  • Construction manager-at-risk proposals presented to Board of Trustees.

Fall 2015

  • Construction manager-at-risk selected.
  • Architects begin preliminary design.

Early 2016

  • Abatement completed.

    highlandextii

    Follow the progress of Highland phase II renovations on the bond construction update website.

  • Containment restrictions lifted.
  • Architectural designs finalized.

Spring 2017

  • Building permits obtained.
  • Construction begins.

Spring 2019

  • Construction completed.
  • Furniture, fixtures, and equipment installed.
  • Move-in ahead of planned summer opening.

Summer 2019
ACC Highland phase II opens for classes.

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