Santa Ana College celebrates the grand opening of a new health sciences building

SANTA ANA, C.A.– March 14, 2024 – Balfour Beatty and Santa Ana College, as part of the Rancho Santiago Community College District, celebrates the completion of the institution’s new Health and Sciences Building which is now open for the Spring 2024 semester.

The $58.8 million project replaces the existing Russell Hall facility with two new buildings to support future growth and expansion of the college’s Health Sciences programs and prepare and train thousands of students in the local community through health services.

Balfour Beatty delivered the 55,563-square-foot, three-story building for Santa Ana College’s various health science programs including Occupation Therapy Assistant, Occupational Studies, Nursing, Fire Tech, Emergency Medical Technician and Pharmacy Tech and features 36,100 square feet of program space. The facility includes 20 general classrooms, simulation labs, offices, library, large lecture halls, study spaces and meeting rooms. Additionally, studying and gathering areas are located on each floor providing students unlimited spaces to collaborate and learn during the academic calendar year.

A new parking lot is also available to students, faculty and staff with access to three charging stations for electric vehicles as well as a courtyard.

“We are excited to deliver Santa Ana College’s newest facility on campus that provides a state-of-the-art learning environment for students and faculty,” said Gil Fullen, Balfour Beatty senior vice president in California. “During construction, our teammates and trade partners worked relentlessly in providing a best-in-class building experience for our client and local stakeholders. Through our commitment to operational excellence, Balfour Beatty is proud to complete another premier higher education project in our community that will be used for generations to come.”

“Throughout the project, Balfour Beatty consistently demonstrated effective communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills,” said Joe Melendez, Santa Ana College director of facility planning, construction and district support services. “They fostered a positive working environment by engaging with stakeholders, addressing concerns promptly and ensuring that the project progressed smoothly from inception to completion. Balfour Beatty’s exemplary performance, professionalism and commitment to delivering exceptional results make them an invaluable asset to any construction endeavor.”

The new Health Sciences Building is located south of the existing library and north of the new Science Center. For more information on Santa Ana College please visit sac.edu.

About Balfour Beatty

Balfour Beatty is an industry-leading provider of general contracting, at-risk construction management and design-build services for public and private sector clients across the United States. Performing heavy civil and vertical construction, the company is part of Balfour Beatty plc (LSE: BBY), a leading international infrastructure group that provides innovative and efficient infrastructure that underpins our daily lives, supports communities and enables economic growth. Balfour Beatty is ranked among the top domestic building contractors in the United States by Engineering News-Record. To learn more, visit www.balfourbeattyus.com.

About Santa Ana College

Santa Ana College (SAC), founded in 1915, serves more than 54,600 students yearly for credit and noncredit classes. At present, SAC students can work toward completing an associate degree, university transfer, career/workforce training or a bachelor’s degree in occupational studies. In 2025, the college will offer a second bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies. As part of Santa Ana College, the School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center offers free classes throughout the community for adults of all ages and academic backgrounds. Santa Ana College is an award-winning college and was recently ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students and named one of the best community colleges in California by Intelligent.com for a 2nd consecutive year. The college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and medical personnel.