Sneak Peek: Coastline Community College Breezes into Newport Beach

Students will begin filling the seats at Coastline Community College's new campus in Newport Beach in the spring, but on Wednesday the community had a chance to peek inside the head-to-toe green building.

The three-story, environmentally-friendly campus was designed by LPA, Inc. and constructed by C.W. Driver on about four-acres of land overlooking Banning Ranch and the Pacific Ocean. The campus has a long list of green features which include 75 percent of the construction materials used for the campus were recycled and diverted away from landfills, native and adaptive plants were planted to reduce irrigation needs, natural lighting and ventilation is used throughout the campus and censored plumbing fixtures were installed in the bathrooms.

The campus also has a rooftop garden and a large patch of artificial grass on the second level where students can sit at tables and study while enjoying the breeze and ocean view.

"This campus honors the art of teaching and learning and is truly a gift to the students and community," Loretta Adrian, president of Coastline Community College, said. "We want to welcome our neighbors to the campus as they have welcomed us to their neighborhood. We hope they come here often and use our resources."

The campus which was paid for through Measure C funding, a bond measure passed by voters in 2002, cost about $48 million to build and will offer a wide range of courses including welding, environmental studies, fashion design and electrical engineering. The Newport Beach site will serve as a replacement for Coastline Community College's Costa Mesa campus.

Resident Stacia McKenna, 34, says she has a bachelor's degree but is now thinking about taking a class at Coastline's Newport Beach campus.

"It's so different, you don't even feel like you're at school. I'd love to just come and sit out here, enjoy the breeze and the view,"  McKenna said. "The students will really like learning in this environment."

Mayor Nancy Gardner says Coastline Community College brings diversity into Newport Beach by offering classes for the first-time college student, or someone looking to learn something after having an established career.

"Talk about something for everyone, that's what Coastline has," Gardner said. "It's also a wonderful addition to this area and will help us revitalize a place that hasn't been as prosperous as other areas of the city."

Coastline Community College is located at 1515 Monrovia Ave. in Newport Beach.