Del Mar College Background Continued
More construction took place in 1980 on the West Campus with the addition of the Automotive Mechanics Building. By 1983, more than one-third of the College’s students were older than 25. That same year, the College dedicated its new Clotilde P. Garcia Health Sciences Building on the East Campus, honoring the accomplishments of the Del Mar Regent and member of a prominent South Texas family of physicians. Del Mar’s West Campus joined the high-tech age in 1988 with the new Howard E. Barth Learning Resources Center, featuring advanced teleconference facilities to serve business and industry needs as well as West Campus Library facilities.
The 1989 addition to the Fine Arts Center has served not only as an educational facility for art, drama, and radio/television students but also as a cultural focal point for the community by housing the Joseph A. Cain Memorial Art Gallery and Nell Tribble Bartlett Theater. Del Mar renovated a grocery store on Ayers Street into its Multiservice Center in 1990. The facility houses purchasing and receiving, testing, and continuing education offices.
Although the doors to the three-story Business Building opened in 1989, College Regents and administrators renamed the building in 1995. As part of the institution’s 60th Anniversary celebration, they dedicated the 90,000 square foot building to former Del Mar President Buddy R. Venters, who became president in 1987 but served the institution for over 40 years.
As the College moves into the 21st Century, the need for technically advanced facilities and equipment to prepare its students is critical. The Year 2000 marks new beginnings for Del Mar. During spring 2000 students occupied the three-story general classroom building on the East Campus and an expanded Harvin Student Center.