Arizona Western College Completes High-Tech Activity Center
By Eric Althoff
YUMA, Ariz.—McCarthy Building Companies has successfully delivered the $17.5-million Matador Activity Center at Arizona Western College. The project, which topped out last spring, entails 45,000 square feet of space that is home to an esports arena, multimedia center, lecture hall, conference rooms and gaming area.
The school’s KAWC radio station and television studios are also housed under the same roof; people can observe the student broadcasters at work via a transparent wall. In addition, the Matador Activity Center also houses Andale’s Pantry, a food pantry and clothing donation effort for disadvantaged students.
“This building is for the students. It was planned and designed with students in mind,” AWC President Dr. Daniel Corr said of the project. “We hope it’s a place where they can connect, engage and thrive in their experience at Arizona Western College.”
McCarthy’s collaborators on the Matador Center included architect EMC2 as well as subcontractors Yuma Valley Contractors, Delta Diversified Enterprises, Pacific Steel Inc., Progressive Roofing and Haxton Masonry.
“The McCarthy team is proud to help make the college’s vision of an enhanced student engagement experience a reality with the completion of the Matador Activity Center,” Antonya Williams, business unit leader for the Education Group in the Southwest Region at McCarthy Building Companies, said of the AWC construction. “The project was not only completed on time and on budget, it has already received award recognition from [Arizona Public Service] for its energy savings and sustainability practices.
“We’re incredibly honored to have been part of bringing this new asset to the Yuma community.”
The Arizona Public Service (APS) Clean Energy Project Achievement award recognized the Matador Center for an estimated annual energy savings of 53,000 kWh, a carbon offset equivalent to 550 planted trees, reduced generation equal to 635,000 pounds of carbon eliminated and the equivalent of 161,000 gallons of water saved. Because of these efforts, the APS granted AWC a $9,300 rebate.