The inaugural phase will consist of facilities totaling 74,250 square feet spread over four buildings and a central plant located on the north side of Bell Vista Road roughly two miles east of Hunt Highway. Schnepf Road will border CAC’s newest campus to the east, while the Union Pacific Railroad straddles the western edge.
The new campus will sprout from an area currently used for agriculture that is part of the future development known as Bella Vista Farms.
Aside from the 3,750-square foot central plant, the four buildings comprising the educational space will feature 10 classrooms - including two computer labs - and four science laboratories for biology (2 rooms), chemistry and physics.
“The campus environment will focus on creating a community of active learners in laboratory spaces since the new learning paradigm emphasizes practicing curriculum content,” Dr. Doris Helmich, the interim president of Central Arizona College, said.
Building D will be the largest of the four structures at 26,300 square feet. The facility will house art and dance studios, classrooms, labs and offices.
Building C is set at 25,800 square feet and will be the location for CAC’s library, student center, learning resource center and classrooms.
At 9,700 square feet, Building B will house Student Services and the administration, while Building A will consist of community and multi-purpose spaces covering 8,700 square feet.
Over the course of 25 years, the campus has a total build-out possibility of between 680,000-720,000 square feet.
The entrance will meander northward from Bella Vista taking visitors deep into the property where the campus will begin its growth. The architect’s rendering from above the property is reminiscent of a tree with the entrance road serving as the trunk and the loop road acting as the outline of the branches.
While the campus will offer a myriad of education programs, CAC is looking to house several signature opportunities at the San Tan Campus. Health careers, including the Certified Nursing Assistant program, are strong candidates.
CAC is looking at a possible groundbreaking ceremony before the end of 2012.
