2008 Woodie Awards
Expanding Education
Construction of new Academic building set to begin this spring
Nikki Hynek
Issue date: 3/29/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Construction is set to begin on the main campus this spring for a new Academic building that will add 42,000 square feet of additional classroom space. The first phase of construction will start May 11, with demolition of the East Campus temporary facilities.
The new building will piece between the library and the current wing of Cedar Hall and will extend out into what is now East Campus. The Academic building will house the English department on the third floor, Learning Services on the second and Social Sciences on the first, connecting to its current department.
The plan for the new Academic building was proposed by Kirkwood Community College President Mick Starcevich when he first took presidency in 2005. "Mick noticed right away that there were not enough classrooms," said Allison York, English department dean. York's department is one of three that is making the move from where they are currently housed in Linn Hall. " We are pretty excited about it and the amount of space we get for a new writing center, the increased number of classrooms," York said, "And, we're particularly excited that we gain a computer classroom, which is really important to us."
The decision for which departments would move to the new facility was made after each department was surveyed and a dream proposal of what they would need in five years was submitted. Starcevich, his cabinet and OPN Architects Inc. collaborated and selected the departments. Factors that were considered were square footage, cost to move and which departments would be best served by remaining in their current location.
The new building is said to benefit students by adding state-of-the-art classrooms that will include instructor stations, projection systems, new seating around the exterior of the building and windows in every office and classroom.
According to York, the building was designed by OPN Architects Inc. with the students in mind and a green beige color pallet was chosen instead of traditional blue grey. Since the building is sliding in between existing buildings, the exterior of the new building will include materials from Iowa Hall and Cedar Hall to tie all three together.
According to Tom Kaldenberg, executive director of facilities, $25 million was raised two and a half years ago by a bond issue in seven counties for the funding of the new construction project. A $15 million budget is set to cover the new Academic building and a new Horticulture building. Rumors of a skywalk were corrected by Kaldenberg who stated, "It's currently not in the campus plan; it's expensive, not funded and provides no classroom space."
Health Science and Math/Science will be the main departments left in Linn Hall. Kaldenberg shared that part of Linn Hall will be demolished and remodeled and a medical simulator building will be added on.
The project is proposed to be completed in the fall of 2009 and blue prints of the new buildings are hanging in the cafeteria in Iowa Hall.
The new building will piece between the library and the current wing of Cedar Hall and will extend out into what is now East Campus. The Academic building will house the English department on the third floor, Learning Services on the second and Social Sciences on the first, connecting to its current department.
The plan for the new Academic building was proposed by Kirkwood Community College President Mick Starcevich when he first took presidency in 2005. "Mick noticed right away that there were not enough classrooms," said Allison York, English department dean. York's department is one of three that is making the move from where they are currently housed in Linn Hall. " We are pretty excited about it and the amount of space we get for a new writing center, the increased number of classrooms," York said, "And, we're particularly excited that we gain a computer classroom, which is really important to us."
The decision for which departments would move to the new facility was made after each department was surveyed and a dream proposal of what they would need in five years was submitted. Starcevich, his cabinet and OPN Architects Inc. collaborated and selected the departments. Factors that were considered were square footage, cost to move and which departments would be best served by remaining in their current location.
The new building is said to benefit students by adding state-of-the-art classrooms that will include instructor stations, projection systems, new seating around the exterior of the building and windows in every office and classroom.
According to York, the building was designed by OPN Architects Inc. with the students in mind and a green beige color pallet was chosen instead of traditional blue grey. Since the building is sliding in between existing buildings, the exterior of the new building will include materials from Iowa Hall and Cedar Hall to tie all three together.
According to Tom Kaldenberg, executive director of facilities, $25 million was raised two and a half years ago by a bond issue in seven counties for the funding of the new construction project. A $15 million budget is set to cover the new Academic building and a new Horticulture building. Rumors of a skywalk were corrected by Kaldenberg who stated, "It's currently not in the campus plan; it's expensive, not funded and provides no classroom space."
Health Science and Math/Science will be the main departments left in Linn Hall. Kaldenberg shared that part of Linn Hall will be demolished and remodeled and a medical simulator building will be added on.
The project is proposed to be completed in the fall of 2009 and blue prints of the new buildings are hanging in the cafeteria in Iowa Hall.
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