Building D on the campus of Harper College in Palatine, which is one of the original six buildings on campus, has undergone $44.8 million in renovations.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
After 18 months and $44.8 million in renovations, Harper College reopened Building D, one of the college's six original buildings, Thursday morning.
A two-story, glass rotunda is the centerpiece of the renovated building and will serve as a space for students to meet and study. It will be known as the Beaubien Family Rotunda in recognition of college foundation board member Dee Beaubien's $100,000 gift to Harper's Promise program.
More study space was added with the renovation, and Building D houses a lab for English as a Second Language and World Language in addition to a lab for Harper's American Sign Language and Interpreter Training programs.
Renovations also bring natural light into every modernized classroom, and the building's acoustics were improved. Ninety percent of building materials removed during demolition were recycled.
Renovations on Building D were paid for with capital referendum dollars approved by District 512 voters, and more than 80 percent of materials used to build the project were sourced from within 500 miles of campus.
Harper College President Ken Ender speaks during the grand opening of Building D on the campus of Harper College in Palatine.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Guests listen as Harper College President Ken Ender speaks during a ceremony in the rotunda at the grand opening of Building D on the campus of Harper College in Palatine.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Guests and dignitaries gather in the rotunda during the grand opening of Building D on the campus of Harper College in Palatine. It has undergone $44.8 million in renovations.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Left to right, Ken Ender, Harper College president; Greg Dowell, board chairman; and Kathy Bruce, dean of the math and science department; unveil plaques, including one recognizing the contributions of the Beaubien family, during the grand opening of Building D on the campus of Harper College in Palatine.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Harper's new language lab is shown following the grand opening of Building D on the campus of Harper College in Palatine. One of the original six buildings on campus, it has undergone $44.8 million in renovations.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Building D on the campus of Harper College in Palatine has undergone $44.8 million in renovations.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com