Butte College has officially opened its new Science Building, a state-of-the-art facility valued at $73 million, during a ceremony on August 15, 2025. Located in Butte Valley, California, the building aims to significantly enhance the educational experience for students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The grand opening attracted over 100 attendees, including faculty, students, and local officials. During the event, attendees toured various specialized labs, classrooms, and even the new cadaver room. Biology professor Jill Terra guided guests as she unveiled a donated body for educational purposes, emphasizing the importance of hands-on learning in the anatomy department.
Previously, Butte College could only offer a cadaver class once a year, using a single body. With the new facility’s expanded space, Terra will now be able to teach this critical course twice a year using two cadavers, allowing students to compare male and female anatomical features. This approach will provide a more comprehensive understanding of human anatomy, an essential aspect for students planning careers in healthcare.
Julie Jenks, an anatomy professor, noted that the new building effectively doubles the capacity of the department. She highlighted that many students are gearing up for careers in health care, making this expansion vital for their education.
Planning for the Science Building began in 2010, spearheaded by Kim Jones, the director of facilities. The 77,000-square-foot building features two stories, 21 specialized labs, classrooms for various scientific disciplines, and a 2,400-square-foot planetarium. According to Virginia Guleff, the president of Butte College, the new facility will help in managing waitlists that have long plagued popular science classes.
Preliminary figures from public relations officer Christian Gutierrez suggest that approximately 2,500 students will attend classes in the new Science Building this fall. The facility will accommodate both STEM majors and non-STEM students fulfilling general education requirements. Currently, STEM students represent about 9% of the total 14,000 student population at the college, with around 1,200 enrolled in STEM disciplines. To support the increased demand, the college is hiring seven new science faculty members.
The new classrooms incorporate a “studio style” design, as explained by chemistry professor Danielle Gray. This innovative setup allows professors to teach both theoretical lessons and practical labs in a single session. “It integrates the experience,” Gray remarked, emphasizing that this format enables more interaction between students and instructors.
In addition to the traditional sciences, the planetarium offers students a unique opportunity to explore astronomy. Jason Trento, an astronomy professor, demonstrated its capabilities during the opening, showcasing how the facility can take students on immersive journeys through the solar system. “We can go anywhere we want,” he said, highlighting the planetarium’s potential to enrich the learning experience.
Oroville Mayor David Pittman expressed his admiration for the college’s growth over the years. Reflecting on his own time as a student in the 1970s, he noted the significant transformation from a few portable classrooms to a fully equipped educational institution.
The funding for the Science Building was entirely sourced from Measure J, a $190 million bond approved in 2016 to improve facilities within the Butte-Glenn Community College District. This substantial investment in education reflects the community’s commitment to enhancing learning opportunities for future generations.
With the new Science Building, Butte College is poised to offer an enriched academic environment that will better serve its students and meet the growing demand for education in the sciences.
