The Advanced Technology & Education Park (ATEP) in Tustin will be a distinctive 21st century campus providing unique technologically-advanced programs for students, professionals and business organizations in Orange County. The South Orange County Community College District has 68.37 acres on which to build an Advanced Technology Education Campus. Master planning and partnership negotiations are currently under way.
Initial Campus
Currently, ATEP's initial one-acre campus is located at the corner of Red Hill and Valencia Avenues in Tustin and is serving more than 500 students with course offerings from our sister schools, Saddleback College and Irvine Valley College as well as our Center for Applied Competitive Technologies. Some features of the campus include:
- "Smart" classrooms with computer hook-ups and high tech audio/visual capabilities/video conferencing capabilities
- A high end Apple computer lab with dual core (Mac/PC) capabilities
- Specialized technology labs and classrooms for the Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT) which specializes in Optics and Photonics training; and Irvine Valley College's Design Model Making & Rapid Prototyping program.
- Support space:
- Student Services/Virtual Library
- Faculty Offices
- Administrative Offices
- Digital (Wi-Fi) Cafe'
- Gathering Areas
- Ample Parking
Environmental Initiatives and Energy Efficiency on ATEP Campus
The initial ATEP campus supports energy conservation in the following ways:
- Solar orientation - ATEP buildings were placed to maximize the light from the south while shading the buildings from southern solar heat gain. The sunshade elements let in the light but hold the heat away from the windows.
- All buildings have automatic light sensors so when the sunlight is bright enough for optimal task lighting the sensor keep the lights off.
- All rooms contain occupancy sensors so when a room is unoccupied the lights will automatically shut off, saving energy and bulb life.
- All fluorescent lighting at the campus uses current ballast and tube lighting technology optimizing energy-to-light coefficients.
- Light pollution was reduced by using exterior fixtures that do not emit light upward.
- Operable windows may be used to facilitate Thermal Displacement Cooling.
- Drip irrigation using reclaimed water was used throughout the landscaping.
- Planters were placed in the parking lot islands to assist with pavement heat reduction.
- A Xeriscape and native plant palette was used for landscaping.
- Steel siding contains 97% recycled content.
- Tackable surface is made from wood waste particles reclaimed from the lumber industry and made into the product Furtex.
- Where possible no floor coverings were used.
- Where carpet was required, a 100% recyclable brand was used.
- The components were fabricated in a factory environment where construction waste is minimized and recycling is in place for all metal material.
- Building components were made of custom, pre-cut construction materials with very little landfill contribution.
- Parking spaces are provided for van pool and bikes.
Watershed & Coastal Resources: Orange County
The County of Orange Watershed and Coastal Resources Division develops develop regional management strategies to preserve, protect, and enhance coastal resources and surface waters throughout Orange County. ATEP encourages students to educate themselves about these important environmental services to help us keep our runoff water clean. For more information, visit the public education section of their website.