ECC to break ground for building projects
Elgin Community College invites the community to groundbreaking ceremonies for the Health Careers Center and the Academic Library and Learning Center on Thursday, March 11. These are two major projects in the college's master plan funded by $178 million in bonds approved by voters last year. Both events will take place under a tent near Varrack Court and Second Street on the ECC Main Campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. The ceremony for the Health Careers Center begins at 11 a.m. and the ceremony for the Academic Library and Learning Center begins at 1 p.m.
"We are very excited to begin construction of these buildings, embodying the college's mission of improving lives through learning," said ECC President David Sam. "These and other projects in our master plan could not have happened without support from the community. This event continues our effort in making good on the faith voters have in the college."
Both buildings are expected to be completed by summer 2012.
The new 130,000-square-foot Health Careers Center will offer 29 new classrooms and laboratories, state-of-the-art training facilities, and space to accommodate new programs. In addition, the buildings' location at the front of the Student Resource Center will provide a new main entrance and welcome center for the college.
"Our hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes, schools and dentists' offices rely on ECC because our graduates are well-qualified," Sam said. "The Health Careers Center will allow our students to continue training for these high-demand health careers in a building more suited for them."
The new 57,000-square-foot Academic Library and Learning Center will replace the existing library, which was built in 1970 and is the smallest community college library in the Chicago metropolitan area. The new building will have 14 private study rooms, three large classrooms for library instruction, a technology center with more than 60 computers, and an expanded tutoring center.
"Students no longer will have trouble finding a place to study, to hold a discussion or to do work on a computer with this new facility," Sam said. "It also is worth noting that this academic library is a resource for the community, as anyone living within District 509 can use its services."
Reservations to attend this event are strongly encouraged and can be made by calling (847) 214-7144 or e-mailing ccastro@elgin.edu by Thursday, March 4. For information about this and other ECC master plan projects, visit www.elgin.edu/masterplan.