By Lauren McSherry

Last week’s groundbreaking ceremony at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills didn’t really break any new ground. That’s because the first scoop of earth was dug in mid-February.

Inclement weather on that occasion delayed the celebration of the $45 million project, the first construction of new campus buildings in nearly four decades. But nothing held back the blue sky and bright sun that came out April 13 to welcome guests.

Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss, Los Altos Councilman King Lear, Los Altos Hills Councilman Jean Mordo and Foothill-De Anza Community College District founder Robert Smithwick attended the ceremony.

“When the district was founded in 1957, … Foothill College designed and built a number of architectural award-winning buildings that led to its reputation as a distinctive and intellectual college,” said Bernadine Chuck Fong, Foothill College president.

Fong said the college is continuing that standard. The campus center design has already received three prestigious architectural awards: two from the American Institute of Architects and one from the Community College Facilities Coalition.

“This is absolutely exciting for us. We have not had any new buildings since 1966,” she said.

The project includes a 200-seat studio theater, a three-story student services building, three lecture halls, a life sciences building and additional buildings for the horticulture and veterinary programs.

The buildings are expected to relieve the pressure of servicing nearly 18,000 students on a campus built for only 3,500. They are sustainably designed to be energy efficient.

Three will have sod roofs - the buildings’ most striking visual feature, according to the project’s architect, Nick Seierup of the design firm Perkins + Will.

The project is part of Measure E passed in 1999.