Hope to see you there!
TRUCKEE - Excitement is growing on McIver Hill in Truckee, as Sierra College officials prepare for a Grand Opening celebration at the new Tahoe-Truckee campus, scheduled for Saturday, October 11. After nearly four years of planning, design and construction, the 28,000 square foot “green building” will be revealed for the very first time to the public that day between 9 am and 2 pm. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend.
“I think it’s the beginning of a new era for Truckee and the Tahoe region as a whole,” Sierra College Trustee Dave Ferrari remarked. “This new college brings enhanced educational opportunities for all. From our high school students beginning their quest to earn degrees, to our workforce population looking for continuing education, to our seniors seeking lifelong learning opportunities. This is more than just a community college…it’s the community’s college!”
Improvements along Highway 89 around the entrance to the new campus are nearly complete, and a new pedestrian bridge over the river was just put in place, providing the final link in a public trail which transects the entire property from the eastern end near the McIver Undercrossing in downtown Truckee to Deerfield Drive.
As work crews busily add the remaining infrastructure, like curbs and gutters, Sierra College staff is working diligently inside the new building moving furniture and setting up internet connections to ready the classrooms for students. By the end of October, students and staff will be completely moved out of their old headquarters in Pioneer Center and fully moved in to their new campus.
Rob Koster, Project Manager for Sierra College, is pleased that construction is continuing ahead of schedule and is eager to open the doors to the public on October 11. “We’re still anticipating and fully expect to receive a LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficiency & Design) Silver certification for the building,” he stated. “Visitors will enter a space that takes full advantage of natural light, is built using recycled content materials, has excellent indoor air quality and is very energy efficient.”
Sustainable building practices and more were on the mind of Truckee Donner Land Trust Executive Director Perry Norris, when he was reached for comment about the upcoming Grand Opening. "Instead of a contentious land use battle over condominiums on McIver Hill, as once planned, we get a state of the art green Sierra College campus that blends wonderfully with our Town. What a win for the community."
Sierra College’s Interim Dean, Kurt Heisinger, is also looking forward to the Grand Opening celebration. “More than showing off any particular feature of the new campus environment like the open space and trails or the beautiful new green building, I’m looking forward to greeting the public that day. When voters approved Bond Measure H that provided the funds to build a new Sierra College, they were putting their trust in us. I couldn’t be more proud to meet them and show them what we’ve accomplished together as a community. October 11 will be a great day to celebrate!”
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