Since the start of the semester, we have shared with you that our teams have been deep in the programming phase of the Measure HH bond program - listening closely to faculty, staff, and students – understanding how campus facilities are used today and looking ahead at what they will need in the years ahead.This work is essential and foundational, and it depends on the voices of the people who teach, learn, and work in these facilities.

Programming is the part of the process where we ask many questions: How do students use this space? What’s missing? What would make their experience better? It’s essentially the blueprint for the blueprint, as the input gathered during this phase becomes the framework for the activities that follow.

We are now entering the design phase, and it is important to understand what that means – and what it does not mean.

During design, the ideas and priorities shared by faculty, staff, and students during programming are taken up by skilled architects, planners, and engineers who specialize in translating articulated needs and vision into physical spaces. Conceptual designs rendered

into sketches, layouts, and massing concepts begin to emerge, allowing stakeholders to see how their ideas might come together in a real, usable form.

This phase is still very much in need of college voices. Faculty, staff, and students will continue to review concepts, ask questions, and provide feedback as design ideas are developed and refined.

Just as important, projects will not move beyond schematic design (think blueprint) until there is shared agreement on the layout, look, and fundamental design. This is to ensure designs reflect real needs, practical priorities, and how our campuses actually function.

Once a project advances past schematic design, the focus shifts. Design teams move into more technical detail - things like mechanical systems, ducting and piping, electrical

infrastructure, structural systems, and constructability. At that point, the functional and aesthetic design has already been set through collective input, and the work becomes all about technical systems, functioning, and constructability.

You can already see this transition taking place. Stakeholder teams are returning from design safaris, site walks, and benchmarking visits to other campuses and districts with practical ideas and observations. Workshops are helping shape early design concepts that respond to each college's specific needs and identity as initial layouts and options begin to coalesce.

The feedback you’ve given, the needs you’ve identified, and the vision you have for your spaces all begin to take form now. I appreciate everyone who’s taken the time to lean in. There’s a lot of work ahead, but we’re building the future of SDCCD’s campuses – together.

Sincerely,

Joel L. A. Peterson, PhD, MBA, MA

Vice Chancellor & Executive Operations Officer

San Diego Community College District

On Monday, December 8, all five current members of the SDCCD’s Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC) toured the Educational Cultural Complex (ECC) Theatre project to view construction progress firsthand.

The CBOC is an advisory body to the district on matters related to the implementation of the Measure HH construction bond program, as required by California’s Proposition 39, which mandates that citizen advisory panels be established to assure accountability for the use of public funds. Site visits such as this allow committee members to better understand project scope, sequencing, and progress as part of their ongoing oversight responsibilities.

The tour included Chancellor Gregory Smith, Vice Chancellor Joel Peterson, College of Continuing Education President Tina M. King, and other college and district representatives, along with bond program support staff. The visit was led by Chantel Marcq, project manager, and Omar Bernabe, superintendent, both with PCL Construction, along with architect Joaquin Varela Ferrer of HGA Architecture.

During the walk-through, committee members saw active work underway across the site, including interior demolition on the first and second floors and early structural preparations for new walls. In addition to interior work, the group saw excavation and footing activities, utility work, and exterior grading in progress, as well as new openings along the north side of the building. Walking the site helped connect construction activity to the overall project scope.

Design and construction activities are moving forward together under Measure HH. Eight design-build teams are partnering with campus stakeholders across the district to help turn program needs and campus input into early designs and buildable plans.

The Measure HH team spoke with each of these teams to learn more about their approach, experience, and how they’re working with campuses during the design phase. To see profiles from all campus design-build teams, visit the Measure HH Project Partner section on the website here.

What excites your team most about being selected for this project? 

The HGW/DPR design-build team is inspired by the San Diego College of Continuing (SDCCD) Education’s mission to provide accessible, equitable, and innovative education that supports lifelong learning and pathways to the regional workforce. We are excited to help bring that mission to life through a West City campus that will meaningfully serve students, families, and the community. 

At the center of our approach is a shared commitment to partnerships and social responsibility. Whether it’s DPR mentoring the next generation of tradespeople, HGW leading stakeholder-driven design workshops, or SDCCD advancing educational equity through its facilities, each group is committed to more than just delivering projects. Together, we are helping build a stronger and more inclusive future for San Diego. 

For HGW, this work carries special meaning as it takes place in our own Point Loma backyard. We take pride in creating a campus that will enrich the community for years to come. 

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