Staff Tour of LCC Building 16 Renovation

Alongside Tom Goodhew and Sean Lindh from LCC and Katie Sciotto from Fortis, principal Mark Young and project manager Matt Travis led Rowell Brokaw staff on a recent tour of the Building 16 Renovation at Lane Community College.

Built in 1967 with a major addition in 2000, the Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Building (Building 16) was in dire need of more modern and functional labs. The renovation improves and updates these science-related spaces while addressing the building’s deferred maintenance backlog.

A huge part of the project was finding ways to connect new with existing mechanical, plumbing, and electrical fixtures and lines. Matt Travis described this process as similar to vascular surgery, with Systems West Engineers triaging the building and Fortis performing the surgery. The project also involved a heavily integrated seismic upgrade, with new cross bracing and numerous shear walls. Catena led these structural improvements.

The full renovation is a provocative juxtaposition of old and new elements. Throughout labs and classrooms, new linear LED pendant lighting, electrical fixtures, and AV systems are woven into the original vaulted ceiling with exposed wooden beams and a metal truss system for structural support.

In the chemistry lab, you can see the extensive HVAC systems on the ceiling; new fume hoods ensure the safe handling of chemical vapors. Labs and classrooms also feature new polished concrete floors, white oak cabinetry, and lab furniture.

A complexity of the project was phasing. The college needed to keep open certain spaces for classes to continue during the renovation. As a result, the south bank of 4 labs were modified to temporarily serve as chemistry and anatomy labs. Doors and a hallway space between these temporary labs and the main building helped mitigate noise.

The renovation also improves wayfinding and the connection between common spaces and laboratories. One of the goals of the project was to place science on display. Hallways now include glazed cabinetry, built-in seating, and views into the aquatics lab.

While there was a light touch on the exterior, improvements included: Re-roof of the west wing, removal of the roof connecting Bldg 16 to Bldg 15, and installation of a fume exhaust structure and a new metal ventilation shaft.

The overall project targets LEED Building Operations and Maintenance Certification to meet LCC’s sustainability goals. The main phase of the renovation was completed in March 2026, and the remaining renovation and sitework will be completed this summer.

Ancillary to the larger Building 16 construction, LCC has added renovation of its teaching greenhouse interior. Botany students use this working greenhouse as part of their active curriculum. A new accessible path will connect Building 16's east entrance to the greenhouse.

At the greenhouse door, biology students will find the subtle "easter egg" on the freshly installed concrete. Our RB office disagrees: squirrel, raccoon, cat paw prints? We'll leave it to the biology students to solve the mystery frozen in concrete.