Community College Facilities Coalition (CCFC) 29th Annual Conference

In September, the Community College Facilities Coalition (CCFC) held its 29th annual conference at Sacramento’s newly renovated SAFE Credit Union Convention Center. The conference opened with an Economic Outlook provided by Dr. Mark Schniepp at the Opening General Session, and DSA State Architect Ida Clair delivered an additional keynote presentation on the last day of the conference. Educational sessions were held throughout the event on varying topics, including “CollegeBuys Partners Support Facilities Modernization and Sustainability Initiatives.” During this session, an overview of CollegeBuys and the advantages of leveraging its contracts were presented, along with a discussion of the program’s sustainable procurement guidelines, which support waste reduction, energy efficiency, and buying locally and inclusively. The session also highlighted the California Community Colleges Board of Governors recently adopted resolutions aligned with California’s Climate Action Goals, one of which is to increase procurement of sustainable products and services by 20 percent compared to current levels by 2025. Two case studies involving CollegeBuys partners, KYA and Trane, and their respective water conservation and energy projects were also discussed; along with the ability of colleges to leverage the 2022-23 Budget Act allocation of $840.7 million in General Fund for deferred maintenance for these types of projects.

The conference also celebrated Ron Beeler, former Director of Facilities Planning & Construction at North Orange CCD for 35 years and current President of Facilities Planning & Program Services (FPPS). Ron won the 2022 Paul Holmes Facilities Leadership Award for his commitment and dedication to enhancing facilities for California community college students.

CCFC Professional Design Awards were presented in conjunction with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office for outstanding architectural design based on merit, honor, and excellence. Each project recognized distinctive institutional features that enhance the community college learning environment. The awarded projects are as follows:

• Growth – Award of Merit
  • Antelope Valley College Sage Hall, Antelope Valley Community College District
• Specialized Facility – Award of Excellence
  • College of Marin New Miwok Center, Marin Community College District
• Project in Design – Award of Honor
  • College of Marin Integrated Learning Resources Center, Marin Community College District
• Project in Design – Award of Honor
  • Santa Barbara City College – Physical Education Replacement Building, Santa Barbara City College
• Project in Design – Award of Merit
  • Academic Village 2, Madera Community College, State Center Community College District
• Modernization – Award of Merit
  • Cypress College Veterans Resource Center / Student Life & Leadership Center, North Orange County Community College District
• Modernization – Jurors Citation Award
  • Hilb Library and Building C Renovation, College of the Desert

The CollegeBuys team greatly enjoyed seeing so many of our purchasing colleagues in attendance at this year’s conference. Although geared towards facilities professionals across the state, Ben Cayabyab, Contracts Manager at Contra Costa CCD, shared that networking with both purchasing and facilities colleagues and the valuable information shared in the sessions – pertinent to both purchasing and facilities – made for a great conference and will keep him coming back for years to come. Thank you all who attended and congratulations to this year’s award winners!