May 2021 update
Below are some progress highlights of the HT project over the last few months.
- The design of the renovated east side of HT was finalized with the help of users and college stakeholders.
- The interior development for the HT building made progress using the feedback received this past winter.
- Construction of the Medical Imaging suite in the basement of the HT building is near completion with the goal of having users moved in at the end of June 2021.
- Construction of the Biology department teaching areas and offices at the ST building made strong progress aiming to be complete by the end of August 2021.
- Design plans for the swing spaces at Sylvania’s CT, Library, and heat plant that will accommodate the Nursing and Music departments were finalized.
- User engagement continued for Nursing, Architecture and Interiors, Exercise Science, Dance, Physical Education, and Music programs.
Permanent moves and temporary swing space design
The Medical Imaging suite will permanently move to the basement of HT and the Biology lab will permanently move from Sylvania’s HT building to the ST building. The project team is completing the construction of the Medical Imaging suite and users will be able to move in at the end of June. This tenant improvement, which occurred in an existing space, was truly transformative. The Medical Imaging suite includes a classroom, teaching laboratories, and student areas. The improvements to the basement of the HT building will deliver all-user accessible restrooms where there were no restrooms before.
The construction of the Biology department on the second floor of the ST building has started. The new plans for the Biology department suite include six new laboratories (two general Biology labs, two A&P labs, one Microbiology lab, and one flexible lab), a large stockroom, an office, open collaboration spaces, and study areas. The renovated space in the ST building will also house the Environmental Center offices and, temporarily, the Food and Nutrition program until the HT renovation is complete.
The set of swing projects related to the Nursing program have all started construction. The Nursing skills program will temporarily move into the Heat Plant building. The Nursing offices will temporarily move into the Library at Sylvania Campus. The Nursing patient simulation lab will function out of Cascade Campus while the construction of HT takes place. This medical simulation lab is currently under construction in Cascade’s Public Service Education Building.
The swing spaces that will accommodate Nursing temporarily at Sylvania’s Library and Heat Plant, and Music’s permanent move to the Sylvania CT, will begin construction between May and June. These spaces plan to be completed in time for the Fall term.
In preparation for the construction of each area this project encompasses, the project team has carefully coordinated the areas’ relocation and executed the required moves.
HT design
The design for the current phase of the renovation of the HT building was complete at the end of April. Stakeholders worked tirelessly to review the plans as they moved through the last phases of design during the end of winter term and the beginning of spring term. The project is moving towards finishing the construction documentation phase at the end of May. Construction for the east side of HT is anticipated to start in fall 2021.
The renovated HT building will have the following layout:
- Level 3: Architecture and Interior Design (classrooms, computer labs, materials library, and support/critique spaces), several general-purpose classrooms, and conference rooms.
- Level 2: Nursing department (skills labs, patient simulation suite, and various support spaces), consolidated offices suite, new restrooms, and existing gym.
- Level 1: Physical Education (weight training space and fitness center), Exercise Science (two teaching labs with four consultation rooms), and a large multipurpose group exercise space.
- Basement: Medical Imaging department (large lab with new training stations, computer lab, seminar room, x-ray rooms, and support spaces), a general-purpose classroom, conference room, the existing IT spaces, and four new single-user restrooms.
The feedback received from focus groups and the winter 2021 online survey provided the project team with the direction regarding stakeholder preferences. This input further advanced the design of the new study and collaboration areas planned as part of the HT renovation. Although some elements are defined, such as the color palette, the furniture, and related finishes still need to be finalized. The design considerations align with the feedback received regarding interiors. Some examples include:
- Elements that provide warmth were incorporated to contrast against the concrete that will still be present in the building.
- While some of the furniture in the study and collaboration areas will be anchored, some of the furniture will be able to be adjusted to accommodate individuals as well as large or small groups.
- The student areas include accessories for studying alone or in groups, such as whiteboard and pin-up areas.
- Additional whiteboards will be provided in general-purpose classrooms as well as moveable furniture to allow for a flexible learning environment.
- A portion of the furniture will be powered to allow users to charge electrical devices.
Other highlights of the redesigned spaces at the HT building include:
- New all-user restroom facilities on every floor of the HT building. Some of these are single-stall and some are multi-stalls with floor-to-ceiling walls at each stall.
- New windows and all new insulation were applied to the building to bring in natural light and increase the building’s energy efficiency.
- Access to all classrooms, offices, and laboratories will occur from the inside of the building. Although circulation will be pushed to the inside of the building, the external corridors will remain.
- Color accents are incorporated in the interior corridors of the HT as well as in classrooms and laboratories.
- Technology in the classrooms aims to provide more flexibility for users. For example, instructors can bring their devices for presentations. The audiovisual system (AV) to be installed in the renovated classrooms consists of an adjustable height table/podium that is in line with the ADA accessibility guidelines and an AV cabinet that contains all the hardware (computer) and the touch panel.
- Increased number of meeting spaces with movable furniture to allow for different configurations.