BCC's Hawthorne, Melville Renovations on Track For 2015
.JPG) Two of the school's major buildings are eyed for renovation in 2015. |
In the fall of 2012, the state earmarked $21 million in capital funds to renovate Hawthorne and Melville halls on the West Street campus. Since then, college and state officials have been setting the groundwork for the eventual construction.
"We just completed the study phase and we'll be moving into schematic design," Scott Richards, director of facilities, said on Monday.
Most recently, officials have narrowed the field of construction managers. Seven firms have been deemed qualified for the job and will now submit bids. Richards said a firm should be contracted in October or November.
"We're still looking at commencing construction in the spring of 2015," Richards said.
The college is also finished working with designers NBBJ in assessing the needs of the buildings through meetings with staff and students. That study identified how the buildings will be used.
Meanwhile, college officials have plotted out how to continue operations during the construction, which will not require mobile trailers to be set up. But offices and classrooms will have to be shuffled around during construction, including utilizing the satellite campuses.
Hawthorne is eyed for construction in summer and fall 2015. Melville will begin in spring and summer 2016. Starting in the beginning of the year, staff will be moving out of Melville in hopes some work can start early.
Richards said NBBJ will be engaging staff and students at various points in the design work.
Construction is estimated at $16.3 million, Richards said, creating an overall budget at about $20 million. The earmark dates back to a 2008 education bond bill.
The buildings are some 40 years old and host the majority of the school's classrooms and science labs. The renovations were cited as a need a decade ago in the school's master plan.
Tags: BCC, college, renovation,
