As of July 2026, construction for a brand new science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) building started. The building meant for STEM and art students, is set to be complete by fall 2028.
The STEAM building has been in the works for eight years, aiming to create a building that combines both STEM and the arts, a physical manifestation of the two disciplines intertwined.
The project is ambitious — it’s set to include a garden, bioscience and chemistry labs, faculty space, and space for photography, arts and media students. Also included in the STEAM project are renovations to the first floor of the 1800 building and the amphitheater.
The amphitheater renovation, which includes a new controls room and sun shade truss over the stage, is mostly completed. Renovation of 1800 building’s first floor will begin after the STEAM building is built, and will likely be finished in December 2028.
The STEAM project is a partner project between FLINT, the contractor, SmithGroup, the architects, and Las Positas College. All three are working together to ensure the project goes smoothly.
Plans for the STEAM building started as far back as 2018, a direct result of the funding the Chabot Las Positas Community College District, or CLPCCD got from Measure A, a $950 million bond in 2016. The STEAM building is projected to be finished and open for classes by fall 2028.
There are two increments to the project. Increment one consists of demolition and increment two is when the new building is actually constructed.
Increment one has been in progress for over a year. The 800 building has been demolished and the pad of the new building has been built. Now that increment one is complete and the area is ready, increment two can take place.
Before construction could take place however, the plan has to be reviewed by the Division of the State Architect. DSA is a California government agency that oversees construction in state-owned facilities, mainly schools and colleges.
Among the DSA’s responsibilities include ensuring state-owned buildings comply with building codes, and reviewing all construction that takes place.
The Facilities and Sustainability Committee at LPC has been in charge of this part of the process for the past year. According to notes from the committee’s monthly meetings, the plan was resubmitted in late September, and feedback from the DSA was expected in mid-November.
“The DSA reviews the plans and provides comments. Then our team and the designers work on answering them. We have meetings with DSA to make sure that we’re understanding, then we resubmit,” said Ann Kroll, project planner/manager at LPC and a member of the Facilities and Sustainability Committee.
After resubmitting and responding to DSA comments for the past six to nine months, DSA officially approved the construction plan in late June. With the plan approved, increment two begins in July.
“Within the next couple months, you’ll start to see steel being erected on the site,” said Kroll.
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TOP PHOTO: The science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics building is currently under construction at Las Positas College. This rendering, created for the college by the SmithGroup shows the front of the building, which is slated for completion in 2028.
Nuha Maflahi is the Campus Life Editor for The Express. Follow her on X @NuhaMaflahiLPC.
