College of Lake County makes its case, keeps $17.5 million state grant for new science building
With assurance state funding remains available for a long-planned new science building and renovations to an adjacent existing structure, College of Lake County officials say construction on the project will begin in spring on the Grayslake campus.
Former Gov. Pat Quinn announced in December 2011 he approved a $17.5 million state grant for the science building that would cover a bulk of the cost. But concern about the proposed project, which didn't start as anticipated in 2014, rose after Bruce Rauner announced state-funded capital projects were on hold after he was inaugurated as governor Jan. 12, CLC officials said.
CLC Vice President for Administrative Affairs David Agazzi said college officials and Lake County state legislators quickly worked to convince the Rauner administration the science building was worthy of the grant.
Agazzi said the main selling point was project planning was too far along to disconnect the grant cash. He added that an overall $148 million sustainable campus master plan for CLC's Grayslake flagship and the branches in Vernon Hills and Waukegan would be negatively affected without the science building project.
"We are very grateful to the Rauner administration for realizing the importance of this (plan)," Agazzi said Thursday.
Agazzi said CLC is expected to pay about $10.7 million toward the project.
Construction on the new 42,000-square-foot science building will start in the spring and is targeted for completion in August 2016. That'll be followed by renovations to the 25,000-square-foot adjacent existing science structure to be finished by August 2017.
Highlights of the overall project will include five new chemistry laboratories, four optic and laser labs, a mechatronics laboratory and a new anatomy and physiology laboratory where cadavers will be used in curriculum, Agazzi said.
CLC board Chairman Amanda Howland expressed her satisfaction with the science building project moving forward after Agazzi announced the $17.5 million state grant remained secure at a meeting this week.
"We are pleased that our administration and local legislators were successful in making the case for the project," she said.
CLC plans a geothermal system to heat and cool the science facility, which Agazzi said will be part of an overall $83,300 in projected energy cost savings annually. Geothermal technology can heat and cool buildings by using the earth's presumably steady, underground temperature instead of common furnaces or air conditioning.
Solar panels on the roof will be another energy source. Agazzi said the roof will be designed in a way to allow students access to study the solar panels.