Florence, Ore. – The Florence Center is the latest Lane Community College (LCC) building to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. This sustainability designation means high efficiency and lower costs for the college, and a healthier, more comfortable building for staff, students, and community members. Since adopting a "Sustainability: Design and Construction” policy in 2006, the college has worked toward this U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)’s certification for all new buildings and major remodels. The Florence Center has earned the Silver level for their LEED Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) rating system.
The Florence Center’s remodel is one of many improvements funded by a 2020 Bond Measure generously approved by Lane County voters. The modernized facility demonstrates the college’s commitment to expanding educational opportunities for western Lane County.
“The remodel of the Florence Center has been warmly received by the community, some of whom are discovering the center for the first time,” said Beth Habin, a project coordinator at the center. “New in-room technology makes classrooms more useful for presentations and instruction, and the new sound system installed in the dance/wellness studio is enjoyed by the many community classes that take place there (we often hear the music trailing down the hall as students lose themselves in dance or exercise).”
Originally called the “Siuslaw Area Center,” the Florence Center was built in 1976 at 3149 Oak St. LCC already had a considerable presence in the community with mobile classrooms, outreach programs in local schools, and properties at Siltcoos Station and Heceta House. Though these elements have changed over the years, the Florence Center has evolved to continue offering educational opportunities for local residents, including both credit and continuing education options.
The Florence Center after its opening in 1976.
The $9.5 million project includes seismic retrofitting , enhanced safety and security measures, modernized classroom technology, and upgraded labs and teaching spaces to support Science, Math, Arts, and Engineering classes. The construction, which began in May 2022, included the expert Consultant Team from Woofter Bolch Architecture and Lease Crutcher Lewis Construction.
"Seeing it in its original condition and watching the transformation to where it is now, it is really outstanding," said Sean Lindh, Capital Project Coordinator who worked on the renovation.
This transformation included a complete upgrade of the existing mechanical systems. Sustainable technology included LED lighting, Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems, and more efficient HVAC systems. These not only improved comfort for students, staff, and faculty, but also improved energy efficiency, strengthening Lane’s commitment to community stewardship and future generations.
Lane continues to invest in energy (and cost) efficiency, as it works on Strategic Energy Management (SEM) through the Energy Trust of Oregon, with an ultimate goal of Carbon Neutrality in 2050.
Learn more about Lane’s LEED-Certified Buildings
Lane Community College educates over 17,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $816.2 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 9,700 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses