Final steel beam in place for dormitory at Lake Tahoe Community College

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It seems like yesterday when the Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) trustees and leadership team joined the community in turning over the first shovels of dirt at the site of the college's dream of 50 years, an on-campus dormitory.

The date was August 9, 2023, when the college kicked off the building of a 32,000 square foot, 33-room, 100-bed dormitory between the library and the gym, overlooking Trout Creek.

"This project is a game changer for the college, the community, and the students," said LTCC President/Superintendent Jeff DeFranco at the time.

Fast forward just 288 days and DeFranco led a gathered crowd from the same spot in a chant of "Fly that beam!"

LTCC held a “Topping Off” ceremony for the new student housing facility. The final steel beam was lowered into place, marking the halfway point in construction.

"This is another blossoming of the campus," said LTCC Board of Trustee Chair Jeff Cowen.

Before the beam was picked up by a crane to be lowered onto the structure, everyone was invited to sign the beam. When the project is completed, the signatures will be visible from the dorm's stairwell.

The "game-changing" structure will have 90 beds in 45 rooms in a double occupancy configuration with a bathroom between the rooms. There will also be 10 beds in a single occupancy configuration, with a bathroom in between the rooms. There will also be an apartment for the newly hired Director of Residential Living.`

Double occupancy rooms will cost students $500 per month, including utilities. Single occupancy will be $795 per month, including utilities. The housing is dedicated to low-income full-time students.

It's much more than a housing project," said DeFranco. "It is a student success project."

Once the stressor of finding safe and affordable housing is removed, the students can focus on their successes.

Students will be moving in just over a year from now in time for the Summer Session of 2025.