The Career Education Complex at San Jose City College revitalized a significant portion of the campus, establishing a central hub for students enrolled in career education programs and the broader community. The project included renovation of an existing structure and construction of a new Career Education Building featuring a lecture hall, classrooms, computer labs, specialized labs for skilled trades, and facilities supporting medical, business, and information technology disciplines. The completed complex also includes offices, student support areas, social spaces, and food service amenities.
As part of the design-build team, Verde Design developed the plaza spaces connecting the two buildings, along with terraces on the third and fourth floors of the new facility. The ground-floor plaza incorporates bermed planters with bioretention areas, terraced seating walls, and distinctive paving patterns that define flexible spaces while complementing the architectural character of the new Career Education Building. These spaces support a variety of student uses, including breakout areas, gathering and lounging spaces, dining, event seating, and individual workspaces.
A similar design approach extends to the third- and fourth-floor terraces, where modular planter and paving systems create flexible environments for both structured and informal activities. Together, the plazas and terraces provide vibrant outdoor spaces that encourage learning, collaboration, gathering, and student engagement while enhancing the overall campus experience.
