Bellevue College to Hold Town Hall in Issaquah to Discuss Future HighlandsCampus

What would you like to see in the future east campus of Bellevue College? That’s the topic of an upcoming town hall forum in Issaquah Highlands, hosted by the college, to gather input from residents of Issaquah, Sammamish, Snoqualmie, North Bend and nearby communities. Topics will include potential course offerings, campus planning, building design and more. The meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1 at Blakely Hall, located at 2550 NE Park Dr. in Issaquah.

This community forum is part of an ongoing effort by the college to engage a variety of stakeholders, including nearby residents, current and potential students, elected representatives, planning and government officials.   

“Our goal is to hear from as many people as possible, because there are so many great ideas out there as to how we should develop this campus. It’s important for the end result to reflect the needs and desires of the community this campus will serve,” Laura Saunders, interim president of the college, said.

In 2010, Bellevue College purchased 20 acres in the Issaquah Highlands neighborhood, with plans to develop a satellite campus to better serve residents in communities east of Bellevue. The site is located up the hill from the new Swedish Hospital Medical Center Issaquah Highlands location, on the east side of Highlands Drive near the Shops at Issaquah Highlands, the City of Issaquah soccer field at Central Park, and Grand Ridge Elementary.

College officials envision a robust campus with multiple buildings and a variety of class offerings. Initially, the plan is to start small, with one building, and add space in coming years as resources become available and demand for classes increases.

--Information from Bellevue College.