McHenry County College could be getting a makeover
The draft of a master plan for McHenry County College's eventual expansion includes a traditional college quad, several new buildings and two parking garages.
Representatives of Darien-based Wight & Co. presented the draft plan Thursday morning at a meeting of the college's facilities and planning committee. The company, hired by the college last August, will give a full presentation — including projected costs — at a special board meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 26.
Several renderings of the plan were presented at the public meeting, but college officials declined to make those available to the Daily Herald, stating the architects want to refine a few things before next week's presentation.
In the plan, which assumes the college will acquire additional land, the main entry on Lucas Road is marked by an archway acting as a “welcoming portal” into the campus, senior project manager Leanne Meyer-Smith said.
Elgin Community College also recently built such a structure.
The layout includes new buildings for fine arts, including a theater, science and health, technology and manufacturing, and more.
“Every building will have some classrooms. Education needs to be in every single building,” Meyer-Smith said.
MCC currently has 271,000 square feet of space, not including hallways, stairwells and the like. Based on future enrollment projections and curriculum-based needs, it will require 384,000 square feet in 10 years and 571,000 in 20 years, Meyer-Smith said.
Those numbers take into account an increase in online instruction and off-campus courses, she added.
The plan includes two 900-car parking garages built over two different phases; some of the current parking areas could be turned into green space, Meyer-Smith said.
Trustee Dennis Adams pointed out the board had so far viewed parking garages as cost-prohibitive.
MCC President Vicky Smith, however, said the college could look into entering into a private partnership with a firm that would build and run the garages.
As for the future look of the MCC, Wight & Co. envisions it as similar to that of Lewis University in Romeoville, incorporating brick, stone and glass. The plan takes into account the use of renewable energy whenever possible, Meyer-Smith said.
“LED and solar panel lighting is very achievable these days,” she said. “The cost is coming down.”
Voters might be asked to finance the expansion through referendum but other funding options include a capital campaign, contributions from donors, and public and private partnerships to limit the burden on taxpayers, Smith said.
The college is now trying to acquire through eminent domain a 20-acre parcel at 9010 Northwest Hwy., and filed for condemnation in late October.
Look: Architects to present plans at Thursday meeting