Arizona Western College (AWC) and McCarthy Building Companies recently celebrated the completion and opening of the $17.5 million Matador Activity Center. The center, which serves more than 11,000 students, features a two-story, 45,000-square-feet building and is located at 2020 S. Avenue 8E in Yuma, Ariz.

Ranking Arizona: Top 10 charter schools for 2023

The Matador Activity Center includes a lecture hall, shared common areas, conference rooms, maker space, an eatery, game areas and a state-of-the-art multimedia center and esports arena as well as one of the first C-Stores in the U.S. The multimedia center houses the KAWC radio station and broadcast television studio and is equipped with modern technology. Students and the public may observe behind-the-scenes production on site through glass walls and TV monitors. 

The Matador Activity Center also provides honors students with a sanctuary to study and collaborate on group projects; a food pantry and clothing program for disadvantaged students named Andale’s Pantry; and 13,000 square feet of administrative space on the second floor.

“This building is for the students,” said AWC President Dr. Daniel Corr. “It was planned and designed with students in mind. We hope it’s a place where they can connect, engage and thrive in their experience at Arizona Western College.”

The project was funded through board-approved revenue bonds for the college’s capital building efforts. Revenue bonds do not raise taxes for local taxpayers in Yuma and La Paz counties; instead, they guarantee revenue to pay off bonds. 

“The McCarthy team is proud to help make the college’s vision of an enhanced student engagement experience a reality with the completion of the Matador Activity Center,” said Antonya Williams, business unit leader for the Education Group in the Southwest Region at McCarthy Building Companies. “The project was not only completed on time and on budget, it has already received award recognition from APS for its energy savings and sustainability practices. We’re incredibly honored to have been part of bringing this new asset to the Yuma community.”

APS awarded AWC a Clean Energy Project Achievement distinction for the Matador Activity Center and issued the college a rebate check for over $9,300. The award recognized AWC for:

  • Estimated annual energy savings of 53,000 kWh
  • Reduced generation equivalent to 635,000 pounds of carbon eliminated
  • Carbon offset equivalent to 550 trees planted
  • Reduced generation equivalent to 161,000 gallons of water saved

EMC2 served as the design architect on the Matador Activity Center. Major trade partners included Haxton Masonry, Delta Diversified Enterprises, Yuma Valley Contractors, Pacific Steel Inc. and Progressive Roofing.