Contact:
Laura Lance / Kate Blocker
Studio PR / Blach Construction
707.477.6606 / 408.869.8322
[email protected] / [email protected]
Novato, Calif., October 18, 2018 – Blach Construction (Blach) was on-site at College of Marin’s (COM) Indian Valley Campus (IVC) for the groundbreaking of the new 19,500 square-foot Miwok Aquatic and Fitness Center, a long-awaited addition to IVC that will provide comprehensive health and wellness benefits for students, staff and the community. The groundbreaking took place Saturday, September 29, as part of a larger event celebrating construction and modernization projects happening across the 333-acre campus made possible by the voter supported Measure B bond.
“We are thrilled to be moving forward with the new Miwok Aquatic and Fitness Center on our Indian Valley Campus,” said Isidro Farias, director of capital projects at COM.
“Bolstering our offerings in physical education, wellness and kinesiology with this innovative facility will help to attract new students, as well as better serve existing students and our surrounding community,” continued Greg Nelson, COM’s assistant superintendent/vice president of administrative services. “We thank the project team for its incredible attention to detail and creativity in executing our vision.”
A design-build project by long-time partners Blach and ELS Architecture and Urban Design, the state-of-the-art building will house a fitness center including cardio equipment, weights and group fitness spaces. Locker rooms, classrooms, offices, a lobby and storage space will surround the Miwok Center. Adjacent, outdoor Olympic-size and lap pools will serve COM as well as the aquatic needs of the community for swim classes, team meets, recreation and youth camps. Using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, the project has the potential to earn zero net energy (ZNE) consumption. Construction of the Miwok Center is anticipated to complete by summer 2020.
“We are happy to partner with our friends at ELS to bring College of Marin a facility that will meet so many needs in one space. From enhancing the school’s overall educational and wellness offerings to bringing high-caliber fitness and recreation options to the community, we look forward to the next exciting phase of building the Miwok Aquatic and Fitness Center,” said Kim Scott, vice president of Blach Construction.
About College of Marin
Established in 1926, College of Marin remains committed to educational excellence, providing equitable opportunities, and fostering success in all members of its diverse community. With campuses in Kentfield and Novato, students of all ages have affordable access to an exciting variety of credit and noncredit courses as well as community education classes for lifelong learning. College of Marin is one of 114 public community colleges in California and approximately 13,000 credit, noncredit, and community education students enroll annually.
College of Marin is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.
About Blach Construction
Founded in 1970, Blach Construction builds structures of enduring quality and value throughout the Greater Bay Area and Central Coast. The company’s experience encompasses a broad cross-section of corporate, mixed-use, educational and institutional building types, including technology, life sciences, professional services, healthcare, education and civic/community facilities. Blach is recognized as a leader in sustainable design and construction, dedicated to continually incorporating advanced construction techniques, leveraging prefabrication and investing in new offerings that enable greater efficiencies and dramatically reduce the overall cost and duration of construction.
The firm consistently wins awards across the construction industry and general business community for its projects, innovation, employee engagement and community service. Named to the “Best Places to Work” list in the Bay Area by the Silicon Valley Business Journal/San Francisco Business Times and a top 30 “Great Place to Work” by Fortune Magazine, Blach is also ranked a “Top Contractor in California” by Engineering News Record.
Blach Construction is headquartered in San Jose and operates a branch office in Monterey that covers California’s Central Coast. To learn more about Blach Construction, please visit blach.com and engage with us on Facebook and Instagram.
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