Arizona’s Paradise Valley Community College was officially opened this week at an Aug. 20 ribbon-cutting event. The $17.4 million, 35,403-square-foot facility will rise on the southwestern corner of PVCC’s campus, at 18401 N. 32nd St., and include classrooms and labs for biological sciences programs such as anatomy, physiology and microbiology – all of which previously had to share space in another building with chemistry, astronomy, and other science programs.
Anatomy and physiology programs will make use of a new cadaver that has been donated to the school, and is now on order with delivery expected in mid-semester, Hank Mancini, the science division chair, told the Arizona Republic. He added that biotechnology courses will be launched by spring or fall 2010.
Other amenities in the new biology building include six biology labs and lab prep/storage areas, two anatomy/physiology labs, seven general purpose classrooms, 10 faculty offices, and eight outdoor connecting pods designed to provide academic/social area. The pods will be furnished with chalkboards, tables and chairs.
The firm Marlene Imirzian & Associates was project architect, with Design for Science serving as lab planner. Barton Marlow was the project’s general contractor, and Paragon Structural Design, the structural engineer.