Butte College Unveils $73 Million Science Building to Enhance Learning

The grand opening of Butte College’s new Science Building marked a significant advancement in the institution’s educational capacity. The state-of-the-art facility, which cost $73 million, was inaugurated on August 15, 2025, and is set to transform the learning experience for students in the Butte Valley, California.

During the event, attendees toured the impressive 77,000-square-foot building, which features a range of modern amenities designed to enhance science education. Among the highlights was the cadaver room, where biology professor Jill Terra showcased a donated body as part of a hands-on learning experience for anatomy students. Previously limited to conducting one class per year with a single cadaver, the program will now allow for two classes annually with both male and female cadavers available for dissection. This change is expected to provide students with a more comprehensive understanding of human anatomy.

Julie Jenks, an anatomy professor, emphasized the importance of this expansion, stating that the department is “doubling its capacity to teach.” This growth is crucial, especially as many students aim to pursue careers in healthcare.

Planning for the new building has been in the works since 2010, according to Kim Jones, Director of Facilities. The facility includes 21 specialized labs, two classrooms for various science subjects, a dedicated cadaver room, and a 2,400-square-foot planetarium. This new infrastructure aims to alleviate the longstanding issue of waitlists for science courses.

Butte College President Virginia Guleff expressed optimism about the impact of the new building on enrollment, noting that classes have experienced significant waitlists. Currently, there are approximately 1,200 STEM majors at the college, which represents about 9% of the total student population of 14,000. With the new facility set to accommodate around 2,500 students in the upcoming fall semester, the college is also hiring seven new science faculty members to support the increased demand.

The funding for this expansive project came entirely from Measure J, a $190 million bond approved in 2016 to improve facilities within the Butte-Glenn Community College District.

One of the innovative features of the new building is the “studio style” classroom setup, as explained by chemistry professor Danielle Gray. This approach allows for the integration of lectures and laboratory work into a single session, enhancing the overall learning experience.

For astronomy classes, the new planetarium offers an exciting platform for experiential learning. Astronomy professor Jason Trento demonstrated the planetarium’s capabilities during the opening, showcasing how it can take students on virtual journeys through the solar system. “We can go anywhere we want,” he said, highlighting the potential for immersive educational experiences.

Local leaders, including Oroville Mayor David Pittman, praised the college’s growth from its humble beginnings with just a few portable classrooms to the state-of-the-art facility now in operation.

As Butte College embarks on this new chapter, the investment in the Science Building represents a commitment to advancing education and supporting future generations of scientists and healthcare professionals.