OCC opens new building

COSTA MESA — Orange Coast College opened its elaborate new student services building Wednesday afternoon, with administrators, city officials and the building’s namesake in attendance.

Shortly after 4 p.m., the campus officially dedicated the Norman E. Watson Hall, a four-story, $28-million facility that will house a number of campus offices. The building is the latest project of Measure C, a $370-million bond that voters passed in 2002 to renovate structures around the Coast Community College District.

At Wednesday’s half-hour ceremony, Watson, the district’s first chancellor, and others made speeches to dedicate the building. Afterward, Watson and OCC President Bob Dees cut the ribbon with a massive pair of scissors, and the hundreds of students, teachers and community leaders in attendance toured the facility.

“You know, I don’t really deserve this building, but I’ll take it,” said Watson, 91, who delivered his remarks from a seat behind the podium.

“I’ll have to disagree with you, Dr. Watson,” Dees said. “You do deserve this building, and you will take it, sir.”

The new structure replaces another one named after Watson, who served as the district’s chancellor from 1964 to 1984 and founded KOCE-TV, the public television station operated at Golden West College. The Norman E. Watson Library, built on the same foundation, opened in 1969 and closed in 2000 due to seismic concerns.

In its place is an aluminum-and-glass structure that towers over the buildings around it, with the offices of records, counseling, financial aid, job placement and other services inside. The opening on Wednesday followed two years of work on the building, as construction crews demolished the old library and built the new structure mostly from scratch.

Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley, who chaired the Measure C oversight committee, said she was grateful for the building’s appearance as much as anything else.

“As a City Council member and someone who travels Fairview Road on a daily basis, this building is so beautiful,” she said. “Aside from the services it will provide for students, it’s an aesthetic treasure for our city.”

Students present, who sipped sparkling cider and snacked on pastries outside, said they were impressed by the finished product — and also glad to be done with the construction noise.

“We won’t miss the drills,” said Alison Benton, 22, of Huntington Beach.