DES PLAINES, IL — The construction of two new state-of-the-art educational laboratories is near completion at the Antelope Valley College in Los Angeles County, CA. Completion of the refrigeration and HVAC labs, which will open inside the newly constructed Technical Education Building on campus, is expected early in 2003. The first students are scheduled to attend classes in the fall of 2003.

According to the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES), planning for construction of the new labs began 12 years ago in response to a growing demand in the area for more advanced HVACR training. Loren (Shorty) Shuck, CMS, RSES’ Educational and Examining Board Chairman, served on a committee at the college that managed campus facilities development. Fellow RSES member Joseph Owens, CM, Secretary of the Antelope Valley Chapter of RSES, who is also an instructor at the college, eventually took over Shuck’s role on the committee.

“It took years to move this project to the top of the funding priority list, but it finally happened,” said Shuck.

An earthquake in 1994 delayed funding for the project as money was rerouted to other areas of need. But RSES says that Shuck continued to push for funding of the project for years.

“I am very happy these labs are finally near completion because it is the only educational facility within a 50-mile radius with an HVACR program. The new labs more than triple the size of the area that was dedicated to HVACR in the old building. This will allow the program to grow a great deal,” Shuck said.

Publication date: 10/28/2002