Physical Sciences & Engineering Center (PSEC)

A Building for the Future

The Physical Sciences & Enginering Center (PSEC) opened in January 2013.

The PSEC is an inviting and comfortable place for students to learn mathematics, physics and chemistry. Our faculty and staff provide a nurturing environment designed to help students who are either working on assigned homework or asking questions about unfamiliar concepts.

On June 6, 2006, voters in the Foothill-De Anza District's service area approved, by a 65.69 percent margin, a $490.8 million bond (Measure C). Chancellor Linda Thor states that, "Measure C now enables Foothill College. . . to renovate . . . classrooms, laboratories and offices with a modern infrastructure that will provide updated electrical, heating and ventilation systems, convenient access for people with disabilities, and 21st century technology critical for delivering quality instruction and services to our students."

We are thankful to our community for providing funds for this building and our students.

The PSEC Project — Designed for the Future

In 2009, Ratcliff Architects won statewide recognition with a Community College Facility Coalition Award of Merit for the Project in Design category for the Foothill College Physical Sciences & Engineering Center, home of the Foothill College Science Learning Institute (SLI).

All design and structural components of the new facility and grounds complement the distinct Pacific-style architecture for which Foothill College is internationally renown.

The facility has also been designed to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design LEED® silver rating.

The center is 65,800 square feet and consists of three buildings:

The lab building:

• five chemistry labs
• two physics labs
• materials and nanoscience labs
• a multipurpose lab
• one classroom

The classroom building:

• six classrooms and
• two large lecture rooms

The commons area:

• conference/multipurpose space
• faculty offices

View more architectural renderings

The Foothill College Science Learning Institute (SLI)

PSEC is the home of the Foothill College Science Learning Institute (SLI), which provides an environment of collaboration and innovation, allowing dedicated faculty to teach, inspire and transform how STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) are taught and learned.

In addition to increasing the transfer rates of students studying STEM subjects, the SLI works to develop a STEM work force prepared for jobs opening in biotechnology, nanotechnology and renewable energy systems.

For more information on how to support the Foothill College Science Learning Institute, please call the Foothill-De Anza Foundation at 650.949.6232 or visit our FHDA Foundation website.