February 20, 2002
NMC tops off building project
Signed steel beam hoisted onto new learning center
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
With the traditional flag for honor and Christmas tree for good luck, members of Ironworkers Local 340 lifted a beam sporting the signatures of dozens of dignitaries at Northwestern Michigan College into place Friday at the new Integrated Science and Technology Learning Center.
The Topping-Off Event was a milestone in the construction of this new classroom building that will serve as a new educational focus to the campus. Situated near the library and linked to the existing Biederman Building, the ISTLC will house the labs for all of NMC's science programs, including chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology and health occupations.
Construction on the 54,700-square foot building will be completed at the end of August. The facilities will feature 13 science classrooms and labs plus six other classrooms, one of which will be a computer lab. They will be available for use by students and staff at the beginning of the next academic year in the fall.
"This is not just a classroom but a whole new way of delivering education," declared Tim Nelson, president of the college, before the beam was lifted. "The whole concept was to relate to the learner, to really make it work for them."
The ISTLC has been on the drawing board for four years, said Mike McManus, chair of the Northwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees. He noted that a strategic planning session in 1998 made it readily apparent that the science teaching and office facilities were overdue for an upgrade.
The board also planned that the ISTLC would provide a new student center and the building was designed to encourage an exchange of ideas and learning across science disciplines. Strategically placed student lounges, central instructor offices and well-planned traffic flow will shape the educational environment.
"The faculty and staff have really been involved with the planning on this project," said McManus, adding that the college also held an architectural contest among three firms for the project. "We've kept everyone involved along the way."
Financing for the construction project was provided both by the state and by a 1999 bond approved by the voters of Grand Traverse County for $34.7 million. Other projects funded by this bond include a new parking lot, demolition of the freezer building, relocation of the Automotive Technology program and construction of a maintenance facility.
"I went to school here in the 1960s and this campus has really changed," McManus said. "We've worked hard to keep up with the students' needs."
The old science building had long ago outgrown the demand for facilities. It will be remodeled and turned into regular classrooms and offices, said Ed Bailey, Construction Projects Director at the college.
"That other building was 1960s vintage, close to 40 years old," he added. "The infrastructure on the new building is an order of magnitude more complex than general classrooms because of the science labs, but it's been a good project, a really fun project."
Placing the building in the center of campus necessitated moving the school's Clock Tower to an plaza near the residence halls. Throughout the construction of the ISTLC, which is directly in the center of campus, Bailey has made sure to update students and staff about what his crews are doing.
"I've kept our neighbors here up to date with all that is going on, sending them a letter to let them know what noise and activity to expect," Bailey said.