Sep 162 min read

The VACC Resets its Timeline

California-based contractor takes on the $100+ million building with an eye on a June 2024 completion date.

By: Kaia Mann, Editor-in-chief

After the LACCD fired Pinner Construction on March 8, the Valley Academic and Cultural Center has laid dormant for six months. Photo taken Sept. 9. (Daniel Padilla for the Valley Star)

The LACCD recently hired a new contractor to complete the Valley Academic and Cultural Center, a project that has been on hold for the past six months.

The district fired Pinner Construction on March 8, and recently hired Amoroso, with the expectation that the California-based company will finish the eight-year project by June 2025.

President Barry Gribbons stated that Amoroso will be working “two shifts to complete the project as quickly as possible.”

The VACC started as an idea to improve the arts, media and design facilities on campus, with the intention of uniting multiple departments to foster a more collaborative learning environment.

The VACC will provide students and faculty with new and improved classrooms, study areas, a state-of-the-art newsroom, and a fully equipped radio station. Among the most notable enhancements is the theater department’s expansion, which will feature four new theaters, including a 450-seat mainstage and an outdoor amphitheater for both theater and music performances.

However, the construction timeline has now stretched over four times its initial estimate, leaving some students and faculty without proper facilities. While the theater is slated to get the biggest renovation, they are also left with the least in the meantime, since they have no official rehearsal or performance space.

“We’re like these nomads that move around from building to building,” said Kurt Swick, a theater major at Valley, when asked about the VACC construction in a previous article. “Do I sometimes feel very cheated? Yeah, ‘cause it’s not fair. But my philosophy is that our theater department is about the people, not the building.”

With an original budget of $78.5 million, the VACC has now cost taxpayers over $100 million in total. After terminating Pinner, the costs are still rising with the firm filing an over $35 million lawsuit against the LACCD claiming wrongful termination.

The vacant position was opened up to bids from eligible companies that were evaluated based on the bidder’s qualifications and pricing.

Amrosso has completed over 80 construction projects across education, healthcare, and commercial sectors. They have worked with LACCD in the past, completing the DaVinci Hall and Student Union buildings for LA City College.

“I’m excited to work with Amoroso and see the project completed,” Gribbons said. “I know our departments are all excited about moving in as well.”

The VACC project was initially introduced in 2002, yet construction began in 2016. As students and faculty roll into the fall 2024 semester, Amoroso will expedite construction to finish the project as soon as possible.

According to Pinner officials, 99.12 percent of the VACC has been completed. Without any work on the building for over half a year, it is up to Amoroso to complete the project.

The Valley Star reached out to Build LACCD and Amoroso who both did not return emails.