East Los Angeles College Southeast Campus nears completion; fall 2026 opening planned

City and college officials told the South Gate City Council on March 25 that construction of the East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Southeast Campus in South Gate is advancing and remains on track for an anticipated fall 2026 opening.

Marco Tarantino, director of Bond Capital Project Construction for ELAC and the Southeast Campus, presented renderings, a project timeline and photographs showing demolition, remediation and current construction. He said the project site—previously the Firestone Tire manufacturing plant—was purchased in February 2008 and that the college completed an environmental impact report and master plan in February 2016.

Tarantino said demolition and abatement began in February 2018, Division of the State Architect approval came in 2020, and construction began in February 2022. He described the campus as a three-story building plus a roof deck, totaling about 100,000 square feet on a 19-acre site; planned features include a bookstore, library, health center, fitness rooms, classrooms, labs, student services, administrative and faculty support spaces, a maintenance/IT area, more than 1,000 parking spaces, a biofiltration stormwater treatment system and more than 25 electric vehicle charging stations.

Tarantino reviewed academic programs planned for the campus, including high-demand programs such as administration of justice and fire technology, associate degree pathways, transfer programs, and career certificates and noncredit offerings aimed at local students. He said the project is intended to serve East Los Angeles and surrounding communities and noted the location is about seven miles southwest of the main ELAC campus.

Council members received the presentation; no formal action or vote was taken on the agenda item. Tarantino introduced several project partners and emphasized the multi-decade effort to develop the site into an educational facility.