By Sam Simpson
IVLeader News Editor, Feb. 4, 2010
In order to better meet the needs of students trying to further their education, IVCC will be making a $30 million addition to its campus, starting in the spring of 2011.
According to President Jerry Corcoran, the new technology center will serve many purposes, one of which will be creating an added future income for the college.
Just as importantly, he says that it will also allow many high-tech programs that currently reside in “temporary” buildings on the east campus to move into a single location.
Among the programs that will be moved are the computer numerical control (CNC), manufacturing, industrial maintenance, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), industrial electricity, computer-aided design (CAD), drafting, and the computer network administration.
Corcoran also states that “moving our adult education program to the new building will give incentive to many of our students to continue their educational journey and enroll in credit courses after receiving individualized, self-paced instruction and earning their GED.”
Along with the relocation of these programs, the new tech center will also be beneficial to not only students, but the community as well.
“It’s going to help our students acquire the skills they need to achieve their academic and career goals,” says Corcoran. “Also, when one considers the number of construction jobs that will be created because of the new building, it’’s safe to say that the project will have an extraordinarily positive effect on the local economy—an added benefit!”
As far as concerns go, Corcoran is quite optimistic. In general, he has no worries about the addition of the technology center. He is confident in everyone involved with the project and believes that everybody has done, and will continue to do, his part in making the building live up to its expectations.
He states, “I’m convinced that we have a great team of architects working with us, and they have spent a lot of time meeting with our vice presidents, directors, and user-groups across the college so that the building will be designed for both immediate and future needs.”
The completed technology center is expected to be built by 2012, “and all of the demolition and relocation of programs should be wrapped up in Fall 2013.”