De Anza College administrators and faculty are making plans for a new structure known as the Mediated Learning Center. This 54,000 square foot building will feature a new, grassy quad area as well as an underground parking structure creating at least 80 new parking spaces. The total budget for this project is set for $36,801,458, paid for in part by funds from Measure C, a local ballot initiative. The site that is reserved for the building runs along the west side of campus, across from the Flint Center parking structure.

“The mission [of the Mediated Learning Center] is to accommodate and serve students in a way that promotes student learning and provides an environment that is comfortable and inviting to all students,” said Jeanine Hawk, vice president of Finance and College Services for De Anza.

The first of several workshops regarding the programming phase of the Mediated Learning Center was held Jan. 25. The four hour meeting held discussion on a variety of possibilities for this building, including new as well as current teaching methods that faculty and administration would like the facility to accommodate. As of now, the structure will consist of 14 new classrooms, which will be hybrids, which allow instructors to engage in both lecture and laboratory sessions.

“It’s important that we capture new learning methods,” said Hawk.

The departments that will primarily inhabit this structure are: Anthropology, Sociology, World Language, Technological Resources as well as Distance Learning. Representatives from each department, except Sociology, were among the attendees at the Jan. 25 meeting, voicing their specific desires from the Mediated Learning Center. Their representatives shared input on possible goals for the project, however the final product design is still in its infant stage.

“Ask for everything you would want, and we will make an effort to meet those expectations within the limits of our resources,” said Hawk, responding to an instructor’s inquiries about any specific limits on possibilities for the building.

Faculty members made it clear that they did not like taking more than a minute or two setting up furniture and/or technological equipment to accommodate their lessons, because it would take too much time away from class.

Ideas abounded, including Wi-Fi access throughout the building, and pod casts that would integrate with the anthropology museum proposed by the division’s representative.

For the outer appearance of the building, participants discussed maintaining the classic arch design that De Anza is known for, while integrating a more futuristic appeal.

“We would like to hear from students,” said Hawk.

Anyone with input concerning this project should email Hawk at [email protected] or attend the next meeting, which is open to the public, on Feb. 21 in ADMIN 109 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

By the Numbers

54,000Square feet in the new Mediated Learning Center, 35,000 of which is for classrooms.

80New parking spaces in the underground garage of the new center.

$36Amount, in millions, that the new center will cost.

109Room number of the Admin building which will hold the next public meeting discussing the future of the center on Feb. 21 at 11 a.m.

Luis Cardenas is a staff reporter for La Voz. Contact Luis at [email protected].