It was his "vision," evidently |
School colors are oh so important |
It took almost three years to renovate the three-floor, 90,000-square-foot center into a brightly lit, spacious and organized library and resource center that is inviting to students and inclusive of their needs, Saddleback College Dean of Liberal Arts Kevin O'Connor said.
"The building was generally dark, dingy and uninviting, almost dungeon-like," he said.
. . .
The renovations cost $17 million, $11 million of which were paid through state grants, according to Saddleback Director of Facilities John Ozurovich.
Burgundy and mustard yellow balloons that matched the school's colors were tied to the stair handrails that led up to the center Thursday afternoon, marking the celebration.
. . .
The journey to renovating the center was long. It all began when O'Conner arrived on campus in July 1999.
"I came into a building known as the library and realized that it needed renovation," he said. "So you might say from that first day, I embarked on a vision and campaign to make the case that Saddleback College needed to renovate the facility."….
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Quoting founding trustee Hans Vogel, 1970 |