This content was published: January 9, 2015. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Enjoy a steely-eyed view of construction at Rock Creek’s Building 5
Photos and story by Katherine Miller
When Rock Creek Campus’ remodeling work on Building 5 is completed in 2016, it will contain 1,000 tons of steel framing. The framework seen here is being built around the existing gymnasium.
January 9, 2015
New construction at Rock Creek Campus’ Rock Creek Building 5 is finally headed in a vertical direction.
As part of the bond work approved by voters in 2008, structural steel framing has been erected on the concrete slab poured last fall. The 63,000 square-foot addition will wrap around Building 5’s gymnasium, which remained in use during the demolition of the adjacent structure last summer.
The framework is being erected by West Side Iron, using steel from Gibson Steel Fabricating. Marcus Klein, project manager from Fortis Construction, says this phase of construction is scheduled to be completed on Feb. 11. When the building is finished, it will hold 1,000 tons of steel framing.
“As the steel is erected, the metal decking will be installed once the structure has been stabilized and squared up. This allows the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection subcontractors to perform in slab rough-in activities. Once that is complete we will place concrete on the second floor and roof decks,” said Klein.
The remodeling of Building 5 is on target to be completed by mid-October, in time to welcome students for winter term 2016. The new addition will house faculty offices, the campus bookstore, expanded food services, student resource areas and space for student government. Labs for health and wellness programs and a multipurpose physical education/dance classroom are also planned. In addition, the concrete gym floor will be replaced with wood.
For the campus community, seeing the steel framework in place is a reassuring reminder of progress to come.
“Now that we are going vertical, students and staff will actually get to see the building take shape,” says Klein.
PCC’s 2008 voter-approved $374 million bond program is increasing opportunities for residents to access quality, affordable higher education close to where they live and work. Additional classrooms, updated equipment and technology, and advanced workforce training programs are helping to pave the way for future employment options. For more information, visit the bond website.