Cochise College will move forward with a number of capital improvements following the Governing Board’s approval of projects proposed for the Douglas and Sierra Vista campuses.

At its meeting Tuesday, the board reviewed an updated plan for numerous renovation projects and $13.5 million in new construction on the Douglas Campus. The plan includes a new 8,500-square-foot science building, a new 10,500-square-foot career-technical education building, and new 144-capacity residential living space. The new construction projects are under design, and proposals will be brought to the board late in the spring semester, with work anticipated to begin in summer 2008 and project completion in 2009.

“These projects are a milestone for both the college and the Douglas community, which has supported local higher education for more than four decades,” said Dr. Michael Carter, who represents Douglas-area residents (District 2) as secretary of the Governing Board. “Our investment in the Douglas Campus will benefit students and community members for years to come.”

In addition to new construction, the Douglas Campus plan includes summer 2008 renovations to the One Stop and Student Services buildings. Initial work, set to begin in January, will focus on widening of the soccer field and renovation of the Little Theatre, with completion before the start of the fall 2008 semester.

The soccer field is an acceptable size for regular-season games but does not meet the minimum width required by the National Junior College Athletic Association for playoff or tournament games. In addition, the current irrigation system does not cover all areas of the field. The widening project includes removal of the curbing and track that surround the field, installation of a new irrigation system, and re-seeding. The work will begin in January and be completed by March so that the field is ready in time for the women’s soccer season that begins in August. The project will be managed by the college facilities staff at a cost of $40,000.

The Little Theatre project is set to begin in March or April. The theater is currently used for several large lecture classes, as well as theater productions and other events. However, its use as a classroom is limited by poor lighting, sound system, acoustics and seating. Wheelchair access also is limited.

            Renovations to the theater include new house and stage lighting systems, new seats with swing-up tablet arms, installation of an amplified sound system and mediated classroom equipment, improved accessibility, remodeled dressing and restrooms, and a general facelift to include carpet, paint and finishing. The total cost of the project is $410,000, and the theater should be ready for use during the summer of 2008.

 “We’re excited to be moving from planning to construction and implementation of the master plan,” said Terry Bowmaster, Cochise College master facilities planner. “The improvements we make now will have a significant impact well into the future.”

In spring 2008, work at the Sierra Vista Campus will focus on an addition to the science building, a new career-technical building, and related site improvements, including a new sewer line. The science building project will add 7,500 square feet of labs/classrooms, preparation areas and storage space at a cost of $2.25 million. The career-technical building is planned at 15,000 square feet and will be flexibly designed to house welding, drafting, building/construction technology and other technological programs. The cost of the career-technical building is $3.4 million. Site improvements in the vicinity of the new construction include a new domestic water line, fire hydrant relocation, electrical services, and fire alarm, data and communications, as well as a new sewer line required by the city. The cost of the site improvements is $1.3 million. The Sierra Vista Campus work also will begin in January.

The Cochise College Master Facilities Plan was developed to modernize substandard facilities, upgrade classroom technology and learning environments, and create space to accommodate growth. Since Cochise County voters rejected a bond proposal to fund the plan, the college has modified it to address inadequate and substandard facilities that have the greatest impact on student learning and life and infrastructure systems that are inefficient or ineffective. The revised plan does not address significant growth and calls on funding sources without imposing a secondary property tax levy.

“To make the best use of the resources available, the college developed a much more modest and utilitarian plan,” said Dr. Karen Nicodemus, Cochise College president. “We appreciate the Douglas community’s enduring support of the college and remain committed to providing quality educational services to local residents.”

Check the Cochise College website – www.cochise.edu – for updates, plan details, and progress reports in the New Year.