College

ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ Breaks Ground on Future Design & Media Arts Building

March 17, 2025

By ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾

DMA groundbreaking photo with stakeholders

ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ Chief Facilities Executive Dr. Leigh Sata, ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ Design & Media Arts Chair Mr. Joseph Guerrieri, ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ President Dr. Alfred McQuarters, ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ Board President Dr. Kelsey Iino, ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ Vice President of Administrative Services Mr. Charalambos Ziogas, ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Abigail Patton, and ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ Vice President of Student Services Dr. Henan Joof

On March 17, 2025, ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ held a groundbreaking ceremony for its upcoming Design & Media Arts (DMA) Building. The morning event, hosted on campus at the site of the future DMA building, began with a welcome from ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ President Alfred McQuarters, followed by remarks from Los Angeles Community College District (ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾) Board President, Dr. Kelsey Iino and ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ Vice Chancellor and Chief Facilities Executive Dr. Leigh Sata. ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾â€™s Chair of Design & Media Arts, Mr. Joseph Guerrieri also spoke about the department’s excitement and anticipation for the new facility.  
 
ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾ celebrates its centennial this year. Mr. Guerrieri shared in his remarks that two of DMA’s offerings, Fashion Design and Sign Graphics, were among the first programs at the college when it began in 1925. Today, these programs enroll hundreds of students each year and will continue to grow and thrive inside the new, state-of-the-art Design & Media Arts space. 

DMA Building rendering - view facing south west

Rendering of new DMA building. Intersection of Washington and Grand Avenue, facing southwest

ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾â€™s future Design & Media Arts Building will be the new home of DMA programs like Digital Media, Fashion Design, Fashion Technology, Fashion Merchandising, Sign Graphics, Tailoring, and Visual Communications. 

DMA building rendering - view facing north west

Rendering of new DMA building. Grand Avenue, facing northwest. 

The three-story, 89,445 square foot building features classrooms, computer labs, a multi-purpose space, social lounges, living labs, and a street-level exhibition and gallery space that will showcase garments, costumes, and collections. The building advances ÌÇÐÄviog¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾â€™s 2040 clean energy goal with the inclusion of fully electrified HVAC and steam systems and cool roof with photovoltaic panels that will generate 15% of the building’s average electricity needs on-site.

DMA building rendering - internal view of campus facing north east

Rendering of new DMA building from inside campus, facing northeast. The site's new hardscape and native tree plantings set a new standard for sustainable campus development

The new DMA building will complement the college’s urban aesthetic, using the two L-shaped wings to frame an inviting central quad. The quad will provide a performance space with terraced deck seating for events, accessible paths of travel, and water-efficient irrigation to reduce outdoor water use by 50%.  

The new Design & Media Arts building is scheduled for completion in 2027.  

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