Image courtesy of Butte College
By MATT SMITHMIER
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A little more than an hour north of Sacramento, Butte College is celebrating the grand opening of its new Science Building and Planetarium, a 77,000-square-foot facility funded by a $190 million bond.
Designed by JKAE, the $73 million project was built by a joint venture between Modern Building Company and Clark/Sullivan Construction.
Featuring 21 labs, two classrooms, collaborative spaces, a cadaver room and a 2,400-square-foot planetarium, the new building utilizes a studio teaching model that combines lecture with laboratory.
“This building’s innovation extends far beyond its impressive architecture and laboratories — it’s about the innovative pedagogy that will take place within those spaces,” said Butte College President Virginia Guleff. “Students are not only listening to lectures but actively engaging with the material. This creates meaningful opportunities for learning and better prepares students for transfer or a career in the sciences.”