HCC opens new parking garage at West Loop campus
Apr 8, 2016
Parking at the Houston Community College (HCC) West Loop campus will get much easier thanks to the addition of a new parking garage.
HCC Southwest Interim President Madeline Burillo, Ed.D.; HCC Chancellor Cesar Maldonado, Ph.D., P.E.; and members of the HCC Board of Trustees cut the ribbon as local dignitaries, faculty, staff, and students celebrated the official opening.
“West Loop campus has seen its enrollment increase to nearly 12,000 students and continues to grow,” Dr. Burillo said. “The new structure will enhance an already exemplary college that has and will continue to be a beacon of hope for current and future students who come through the doors pursuing their educational dreams and aspirations.”
Constructed by Skanska USA Building, the new parking garage design is a five-level, 215,000 square-foot structure that adds an additional 549 parking spaces to the existing campus. This brings the total parking capacity to over 1,600 vehicles on campus at one time.
“We now have 12,505 parking spaces in our institution, this is an indication of the growing demand for what we do,” Chancellor Maldonado said. “This is just the beginning, from this we are going to be filling up classrooms and increasing the parking demand on our road to fulfilling our commitment to the community. We are delivering to the community today a parking garage built with their help and support.”
Adriana Tamez, Ed.D., chair, HCC Board of Trustees, sees the new garage as an invitation for more students to attend HCC.
She said, “We are fulfilling our commitment to the community. HCC is the place to be; it is an institution of higher learning; it is one that will prepare you for the future. The sky is the limit in terms of what is happening at HCC. It’s a new day and we are Houston’s community college."
With the new structure, students will no longer have to stress about driving up and down rows looking for a parking space. It will allow them to get to class on time and continue to receive a quality education.
“This is more than just a parking facility," HCC Board of Trustees Vice Chair Robert Glaser said. "We are rapidly turning this into an educational institution and its quickly becoming a campus in one of the fastest growing, most densely populated areas of the city.”
Paula De La Sierra has been a student at West Loop for the last year and a half and is excited about the new garage.
“Sometimes I spend 15-20 minutes looking for a parking space,” De La Sierra said. “After today, I know I will feel more relaxed when I come on campus knowing I don’t have to search and search for a parking space."
During the ceremony, a representative for United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) presented HCC with a Certificate of Congressional Recognition to commentate the occasion.
“Congresswoman Lee is extremely excited about the new addition to the West Loop campus,” James Doggette said. “She knows the vitality of opportunities and the experiences HCC provides to its students’ success, and this new garage is just another milestone HCC has reached in helping students remove barriers and receive an education."
The garage also houses a new green space area perfect for students to congregate. The new plaza provides students with an “on campus” and “at home” feel. Beautiful landscaping with canopies and covered seating give students a place to take a study break and a gathering spot to meet with fellow classmates. In addition, the new green space will allow for more community events at the West Loop campus.
For more information on the new parking garage as well as other bond projects, visit hccs.edu/bond.