Green River College’s new Auburn Center opens

Green River College's Auburn Center is open for business, just in time for the fall quarter, which begins Monday.

Green River College’s Auburn Center is open for business, just in time for the fall quarter, which begins Monday.

The 31,499-square-foot building, at 1221 D St. NE, provides much needed space, technology and hands-on training opportunities for the college’s aviation program, as well as the Small Business Development Center, Transitional Studies and Wellness, Washington Certification Services and the Washington Environment Training Center.

The three-story building is a mix of classrooms, labs, office areas and common spaces, where students can study and interact.

Construction began in spring 2015 after the Green River College Board of Trustees approved the purchase of 3.7 acres of land just east of Lowe’s and south of the Auburn Municipal Airport.

The center cost about $10 million to construct. The total project, including land acquisition and site improvement, was around $20 million.