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# SMC: New airport campus taking off
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/smc-new-airport-campus-taking-off/
- Published: 2004-01-22T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:38:02.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica Airport, #archive-import

*CAMPUS, from page 1 Rehab to cost $9M*

*By Daily Press staff*

SM AIRPORT — In an effort to free up space on the main campus, Santa Monica College will spend $9 million to open more than a dozen new classrooms and offices here this summer.

SMC’s nursing and community service programs, and its education and information technology departments will move into the remodeled building in August. The project includes 16 classrooms, a computer lab and several offices.

“From start to finish, it’ll be under nine months,” said Don Girard, director of marketing at SMC, who added that architects drafted designs for the remodel late last year and contractors will be picked to do the work within the next two months.

The remodel consists of taking a four-story building constructed in 1980, retrofitting it, putting in new heating and air conditioning, electrical wiring and plumbing, and installing landscaping and outdoor lighting, said Greg Brown, director of facilities plan-ning for SMC.

Though SMC bought 10.5 acres at the airport in 2001, this project marks the first time classes will move there. SMC also owns two other properties on the site, one of which likely will be demolished. Officials hope to raise money by renting out the second.

Until May of last year, the airport land was leased to BAE Systems, a company that designs, manufactures, and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, space systems, radar, avionics, electronic systems, guided weapons and other defense products, according to its Web site.

The $30 million property was bought using funds from Measure U, which was passed in March 2002 and will provide an estimated $160 million in funding for SMC facilities. There are more than 20 projects at the college that Measure U funds are expected to be used for, including earthquake-damaged buildings, classroom improvements and a part of the emeritus college on Second Street. The last bond measure passed by area voters for SMC was in 1992 for $22 million.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 22, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/012204.pdf?ref=smdp.com)