Grand Opening!

View within the atrium of Lane Community College's new Downtown Campus in Eugene (all photos by me)

The grand opening celebration for Lane Community College’s new Downtown Campus took place this past Friday. It was the culmination of three years of effort by many, many people who worked together to realize the fast-tracked project. It is an exemplary model for the power of collaboration, from visionary college administrators and city officials to the skilled workers who assembled it. I’m proud to have played my small part as one of the members of a very talented design team, serving as project manager for Robertson/Sherwood/Architects. 

Eugene mayor Kitty Piercy addresses the audience gathered at the Grand Opening celebration.

 

Lane Community College president Mary Spilde thanks the many people who helped make the new Downtown Campus a reality.

Eugene City Manager Jon Ruiz and LCC president Mary Spilde deserve the biggest kudos for recognizing and seizing the opportunity to create a new downtown campus for Lane on the site of the former “Sears pit.” By choosing to reinvest in downtown, they provided a mighty boost to the revitalization of Eugene’s urban core. The energy and optimism these days is palpable, due in no small part to their foresight, imagination, and commitment to constructing the forward-looking project. 

The college's mascot Ty looks a little lost among the throng gathered to celebrate the opening of the new Downtown Campus.

Just a few finishing touches remain to be made: a large, sustainability themed graphic will be added to the north wall of the Student Interaction Area on the main level, and the enhanced commissioning process is ongoing. A LEED Platinum certification is the ultimate prize, which the Downtown Campus is well on its way to achieving. 

View looking down from the 4th level of the Central Stair.

It’s hard to believe our job is nearly done. The time elapsed since our team was awarded the project and now has gone by faster than I could ever have possibly imagined. Time truly does fly by when you’re having fun.