MiraCosta College has opened its new state-of-the-art Media Arts Complex, a facility designed to serve as the campus’s central hub for the arts, featuring an art gallery, Media Arts Lab and dedicated areas for showcasing student creations. A recent ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the inauguration of the $21 million, 10,471 square foot project on MiraCosta’s Oceanside Campus, according to an announcement from the school.
The complex supports the college’s certificate and degree programs in various artistic disciplines, including art history, digital photography, museum studies, studio arts and media arts and technologies such as graphic design and digital media, according to an announcement from the college. College officials emphasized the growing demand for professionals in these fields, citing the San Diego Workforce Partnership’s identification of digital media as a top career subsector in San Diego County and the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ projection of a four percent growth in arts and design occupations through 2030, with median annual wages exceeding those of all occupations.
“As technology rapidly advanced, digital media became an essential part of virtually every industry, from entertainment to education, marketing to healthcare,” Tim Flood, MiraCosta’s Vice President of Administrative Services, said in a news release. “By providing access to the latest digital tools and media technologies, the new Media Arts Complex at MiraCosta College ensures that students graduate with highly marketable skills that will help them secure rewarding jobs in a range of high-demand fields. The arts and media programs at MiraCosta College not only focus on artistic development but also teach students how to leverage digital media in practical, career-focused ways…. The Media Arts Complex will offer more than just classrooms, labs, and studios – it will serve as a launchpad for students’ careers in an increasingly digital world.”
The ribbon-cutting event took place on March 26 at the Oceanside campus. The single-story facility boasted several key features, including a spacious, museum-quality Art Gallery, a dedicated Media Arts lab, a 40-person classroom, student study spaces, and extensive indoor and outdoor areas for displaying student artwork. It also incorporated ‘green’ design elements such as ample natural daylighting, high-efficiency fixtures, eco-friendly interior and exterior finishes and low-water, native landscaping.
The Media Arts project was a design-build partnership led by HMC Architects and Balfour Beatty. Funding for the project came from MiraCosta’s capital improvement program through Measure MM.
Project partners for the New Media Arts Complex included: Balfour Beatty/HMC Architects (Design/Build Team), Schmidt Design (Landscape Architect), NV5 (Civil Engineer), Saiful Bouquet (Structural Engineer), P2S Engineering, Inc. (Electrical Engineer), Consulting Inspection Services (CIS) (Inspector of Record), and Kitchell, in association with Element Consulting and Vic Salazar Communications (Program and Construction Manager).
