Plenty of work ahead in the new year

The new year will be a busy one at Ozarks Technical Community College with a number of major construction projects taking place at several locations through 2011.

“We are working to meet the needs of our students and our team continues to be up to the task to make things happen,” said Rob Rector, vice president for administrative services.

Work will continue on the new Lebanon Education Center where the college will move from its current location to the new facilities donated by Reuben and Mary Lou Casey of San Clemente, Calif. The new center is located at 22360 Highway MM, just south of Interstate 44.

In addition to the two buildings, the gift included more than 13 acres of land.  The total property is valued at approximately $2.6 million and is the largest gift the college has ever received.  

The Casey Hall will be home to 13 new classrooms, several offices and a computer lab available to students and the public. The work is expected to be finished in time for the fall 2011 semester that begins in August.

At the Springfield campus, work is expected to start in February on the addition of second floor to the Information Commons West building that will be home to 10 new classrooms and several offices. Each classroom will seat 22 students, according to Rector.

In addition to the second-floor work, the first floor beneath the new classrooms will be redesigned to house the fitness center, a bookstore stockroom, the STARS lab and a quiet study area for students.

That project also is expected to be completed in time for fall classes in August.

While those two projects are in the process of being completed, work on building a new education center in Hollister is expected to start in mid to late 2011 with a completion date goal of August 2013.

All of the projects are being paid for from a $10 million bond issue approved by the Board of Trustees in June.

“This is what’s great about the growth of OTC. It’s not just in Springfield but OTC is also growing at all of its education center locations,” Rector said.

Steve Koehler is coordinator of publications at Ozarks Technical Community College. Contact him at koehlers@otc.edu.