The Lawrence & Alma DeRicco Student Services Building: A Gateway to San Joaquin Delta College
The Lawrence & Alma DeRicco Student Services Building stands as a testament to San Joaquin Delta College's commitment to providing comprehensive and accessible services to its students. Opened on Sept. 29, 2009, this $25 million building, funded by the $250 million Measure L Bond, represents a significant investment in the student experience. Serving as a "gateway" to the campus, the DeRicco Building embodies innovative design and functionality, offering a centralized hub for various student services.
Background and Funding
The passage of Measure L provided the financial impetus for numerous campus improvements, including the construction of the DeRicco Building. This bond measure enabled San Joaquin Delta College to modernize its facilities and enhance its educational environment. The DeRicco Building project was particularly noteworthy as one of only five California Community College projects selected to participate in a design-build pilot program. This approach fostered collaboration and efficiency throughout the construction process.
Design and Architectural Features
Occupying a site that was previously a parking lot, the DeRicco Building's unique architectural design maximizes available space while creating a visually appealing addition to the campus landscape. The building incorporates several key features:
- Clerestory windows: These windows provide natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting and creating a more welcoming interior environment.
- Second-story terrace: This outdoor space offers students a place to relax, study, and socialize.
- Concrete ramp: Ensuring accessibility for all students, the concrete ramp provides disabled students with easy access to the second floor.
- Traditional Architecture Integration: The building's design complements the campus' existing architectural style through its use of color and finishes, including brick.
The Tolerance Garden
Nestled between the DeRicco Building and the exterior ramp, the Tolerance Garden serves as a poignant reminder of the past. Conceived to honor the Japanese-Americans who were unjustly sent to internment camps in the Stockton area during World War II, the garden provides a space for reflection and remembrance.
Construction Challenges and Solutions
The construction of the DeRicco Building was not without its challenges. The project team encountered several obstacles, including:
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- Soil Remediation: Due to the campus' location in the Central Valley, the site suffered from clay soils and water retention issues. Soil remediation was necessary to ensure the stability of the building's foundation.
- Constituency Coordination: The project team had to work closely with various campus constituencies to ensure a smooth transition into the centralized quarters within the new building.
- Moisture Problem: A moisture problem was discovered in the soil beneath the existing parking lot. The existing parking lot was removed, the soil stabilized and a new lot constructed.
The project team successfully overcame these challenges through careful planning, innovative solutions, and close collaboration.
Cost Savings and Enhanced Features
Early in the project, the team identified a significant cost savings opportunity by using high-level drywall on the building's interior, rather than the Venetian plaster called for in the original plan. This decision not only reduced costs but also allowed for revisions to the exterior plaster colors and finishes to better meet the client’s preferences.
The cost savings also provided funds for reconstructing and sealing the parking lot after discovering a moisture problem in the soil. The existing parking lot was removed, the soil stabilized, and a new lot constructed.
Other Important Improvements
In addition to the DeRicco Building, Measure L also funded other significant campus improvements. The renovation of the Irving Goleman Learning Resource Center was completed during the summer of 2010. It featured state-of-the-art improvements creating a technologically advanced information center. On Jan. 21, 2014, students attended their first classes in the new Science and Mathematics Building. On Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, the Board of Trustees of San Joaquin Delta College held a dedication ceremony for Delta College's South Campus at Mountain House. The campus offers a full range of General Education and Nursing program science prerequisites.
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