Excerpt: "Mesa Community College, on the west end of the district, has poured millions into its own campus in recent years, adding student facilities that are also community attractions.

"A $15 million, 462-seat performing arts center is set to open at MCC next month, with the musical "Hairspray" as its first show. The college redeveloped an old Harkins movie theater to support the arts center with classrooms and a seam shop. It turned a former Fuddruckers restaurant into a storage building.

"MCC is also preparing to open a $1.7 million art gallery and in 2008 included a planetarium — open to the public once a month — in its new physical-science building."