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LAS CRUCES - The addition of a 400-seat auditorium at the Doña Ana Community College East Mesa Center brings hope to the community and ultimately will contribute to economic growth by bringing workforce programs to the area, DACC president Margie Huerta said during its dedication ceremony Tuesday.
"I think these facilities stand as symbols of hope that anyone who wants to come to college can do so," said Huerta. "They can come here, feel welcome, get the education they need and share what they've learned with others and hopefully things will turn around."
The facility includes an entrance gallery and lounge, multi-purpose classroom, support spaces, and an audio visual projection room. It will house theater and creative media programs and provide space for student-orientations and events. In the future, it may be available for community and government events as well.
The 11,000-square-foot building, designed by Studio D Architects of Las Cruces, includes sustainable components such as rainwater harvesting, day lighting features, low-flow and flush plumbing fixtures, and energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, among other features. According to a university press release, these features contribute to approximately 35 percent less energy and 45 percent less water use than normal in a building of comparable size.
The $3.5 million project was funded by a state general obligation bond.
The auditorium completes five of seven building phases
"What we've seen happen actually is over the years we've grown so much that both of our locations, the one adjacent to the university and the East Mesa, are going to end up being about the same size in terms of the number of students served," said DACC Vice President of Business and Finance Andrew Burke.
Currently, about 5,000 students attend classes at the central campus and another 2,800 at the East Mesa, he said.
"We're one of the fastest-growing community colleges in the state, and we're the second-largest community college in the state," Huerta said.
DACC enrollment has increased by around 10 percent annually for the last decade, she said. Fall 2010 enrollment across DACC's six facilities increased by 11.4 percent to serve 9,797 students; enrollment just five years ago was 6,570.
DACC is now the fourth-largest institution of higher learning in New Mexico out of 21 community colleges, three tribal colleges and seven universities, Huerta said.
Phases six and seven are the last two construction phases at the East Mesa Center and will include a cluster of buildings totaling nearly 67,500 square feet. These facilities will host DACC's public service, emergency medical services and education programs, along with a culinary arts facility and student services and will be funded by $6 million in state and $12 million in local general obligation bonds, Burke said.
Phase six is scheduled to be completed over the next two years and phase seven soon after.
Christine Rogel can be reached at (575) 541-5424.
By the numbers
•Cost: $3.5 million
•Funding: State general obligation bond
•Size: 11,000 square feet
•Seating: Up to 400
•Architect: Studio D Architects
•Location: East Mesa Center, 2800 N. Sonoma Ranch
