Clackamas Community College is increasing the science capacity of its Oregon City campus with the grand opening of the new expansion of DeJardin Hall. The home of life sciences, environmental science, chemistry and the water environmental technology programs, CCC students will now be learning about the world around them in state-of-the-art labs and classrooms.
The 23,150-square-foot addition doubles the current chemistry lab capacity, accommodating an additional 250 chemistry students a year, and features science on display both inside and out.
Indoors, the building houses a large bird college, a replica of a beluga whale skeleton and features a large, penicillin molecule sculpture. Outside, an entire exterior wall’s brickwork replicates the DNA of a cougar (CCC’s mascot). Embedded in the sidewalk is a geologic time walk, which is laid out so 1 meter is equal to 100,000,000 years and ends with at a large, glacial erratic boulder.
“This project will serve all science and allied health majors,” Arts and Sciences Dean Sue Goff said. “It expands our collegiate and technical science laboratories and will prepare students for majors and careers in sciences like chemistry, biology, environmental and health sciences.”
The community is invited to help celebrate the completion of DeJardin Hall at a grand opening at 4 p.m. Oct. 11. There will be a short program, plaque dedication and refreshments. The college is located at 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City.
The $25 million project is funded through a bond as well as an $8 million matching grant from the state of Oregon. DeJardin Hall is one of several projects that were part of a $90 million bond voters approved in November 2014 to expand opportunities for students and increase the skilled workforce in the community.
For more information about the college’s bond projects, visit www.clackamas.edu/BondInformation. For questions about the grand opening, contact Public Information Officer Lori Hall at 503-594-3162 or lori.hall@clackamas.edu.
