Construction of CLC campus Master Plan to begin in May
With a groundbreaking scheduled in May for a new science building on the Grayslake campus, the College of Lake County's Sustainable Campus Master Plan will soon begin to move from the plan phase to construction.
David Agazzi, vice president of administrative affairs, provided an update on work on the $148 million Master Plan during the January board meeting.
The Master Plan includes enhancements on all three campuses. In addition to the new science building, components on the Grayslake campus include repairs to the aging heating and air conditioning system, renovation of the B and C wings to create a student services center, a new cafeteria, classroom technology upgrades and a geothermal plant and loop to save on energy costs.
Work at the Lakeshore Campus in Waukegan will include a major new building and renovations of existing space. At the Southlake Campus in Vernon Hills, a new chemistry classroom will be added.
The funding plan for the project was completed in September, 2013, when the sale of $60 million was completed and Gov. Pat Quinn announced the release of $35.9 million in state funding for the Master Plan's Lakeshore campus expansion.
Agazzi said that committees also began meeting in September to develop specific programming such as selection of specific academic programs and offices to be included in each master plan component.
A committee to develop standards for classroom and office space, interior finishes, furniture, lighting, etc., also began meeting.
In addition to the Science Building, other construction scheduled to begin in 2014 on the Grayslake campus includes renovations of the A and B wings, which will include the main lobby, restrooms, enclosure of the "checkerboard court" and creation of a new cafeteria, bookstore and student activities space. Renovation of Building 12 will also be done to create a new auto body repair shop.
At the Southlake Campus, construction of a new chemistry lab is scheduled to begin in October of this year.
In addition to enhancing the educational experience at CLC, the new master plan should also lead to more opportunities for local vendors to do work for the college, according to Board Chairman Amanda Howland.
"Our new procurement policy is aimed at encouraging local vendors to do business with the college, and we held vendor fairs in December and January to encourage local companies to submit proposals for master plan work," Howland said after the board meeting.