Keep your eyes peeled, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes at Miramar College.
Passed in November of 2024, Measure HH is a $3.5 billion general obligation bond that upgrades, repairs, and renovates classrooms and facilities throughout the San Diego Community College District. The bond supports new construction, facility modernization, sustainability improvements, safety upgrades, and campus infrastructure enhancements. While projects are still in the early phases of development at Miramar, the end result will be some of the most significant improvements in the college’s history.
What's Planned for Miramar?
Three major projects have been identified as part of the first phase of Measure HH improvements:
Performing Arts Center & English/Gallery Building
One of the most anticipated projects is the new Performing Arts Center and English/Gallery Building. Planned as a modern academic and cultural hub, the facility will provide classrooms, writing labs, studios, gallery space, faculty offices, and a flexible performance venue equipped with a 500-seat capacity and modern audiovisual technology. The project is designed to support the growing Humanities, English, and Visual Arts departments as well as welcome the brand-new Performing Arts program.
Montgomery Field Aviation Instructional Center
As Miramar’s aviation program continues to grow, the new Instructional Center will provide much-needed space and resources to support its future. This project will replace an aging hangar with a modern training facility featuring updated technology, advanced equipment, climate-controlled learning spaces, and improved accessibility. Additionally, this will consummate Miramar’s highly anticipated air traffic control program, the only one of its kind in Southern California. This investment will help prepare students for careers in the expanding aviation industry while strengthening workforce development opportunities in the region.
Early Education Center
Currently the Child Development Center, the Early Education Center is being designed to meet growing demand for the program. The facility will hold preschool, toddler, and infant care rooms that include interactive indoor and outdoor learning environments, enhanced safety features, and improved campus connectivity. This project will create a modern learning environment that serves both local youth and Miramar College students.
Additionally, the bond includes various smaller capital renovations and renewals that will enhance the general campus experience. Some projects that are already underway include the A200 classroom revitalization/HVAC replacement, reroofing T1, M, and H buildings, minimizing trip hazards throughout the campus, and replacing the lighting inverters in several buildings.
Meet the Team
Behind every successful project is a dedicated team working together to turn ideas into reality. The Measure HH effort at Miramar College brings together campus leaders, faculty representatives, planners, architects, engineers, construction professionals, and community partners who share a common goal: creating exceptional spaces for students and future generations. Meet a few key team members below:
Maria Battisti: VP, Administrative Services
Part of VPA Battisti's many responsibilities include providing executive oversight of Miramar’s bond-funded capital improvement programs. She ensures fiscal stewardship, regulatory compliance, transparent reporting, and successful delivery of construction and renovation projects.
Dan Gutowski: Director, College Facilities & Operations
With over 26 years at Miramar College and previous SDCCD bond experience, Dan is well prepared for the projects Measure HH has in store. Dan makes sure projects run smoothly through hands-on campus project coordination, working with the various project management organizations, and facilitating the planning and implementation of end user needs for programming.
Paul Cristilli: Campus Project Manager
Paul is a part of the consultant group, Kitchell, that manages Miramar’s Measure HH projects. He is responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of the design phase of Measure HH construction projects. Paul ensures alignment with project objectives, budget, schedule, and quality standards, as well as managing multidisciplinary design teams and consultants.
Evelyn Moreno: Campus Project Engineer
Evelyn is also a part of the Kitchell team, aiding in project coordination between the Design Build Entity and the Campus. She also assists in managing daily bond facilities and operations, facilitating the design process with campus stakeholders, and reporting project updates to the District and Campus
Riley Lehren-Chavez: Bond Communications Coordinator
Riley plays a key role in sharing the progress of Measure HH construction and improvement projects, highlighting important milestones, project updates, and stories from across campus. Collaborating with project teams and campus stakeholders, Riley helps ensure the college community stays informed as these exciting improvements take shape.
Sarah Laue: Office of VPA Admin Tech
Sarah supports VPA Maria in everyday administrative operations, including duties related to Measure HH. She maintains project records, prepares reports for management, monitors deadlines to ensure required documentation is submitted, and manages the agendas and coordination of various bond-related meetings.
Chris Barraza: Bond Program Admin Tech
Chris supports the day-to-day operations of the bond program, helping coordinate and streamline administrative processes as well as keeping initiatives moving forward efficiently. His work helps projects remain organized, on track, and aligned with college goals.
Whether coordinating stakeholder meetings, managing budgets, keeping students informed, or working with design teams, every member plays an important role in bringing the Measure HH vision to life. As these projects move forward, the campus community can look forward to watching ideas become reality and seeing the next revitalized chapter of Miramar College take shape.
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