'This is your building'

Big Bend Community College celebrates opening of its largest project to date

MOSES LAKE — The official opening of the Grant County Advanced Technologies Education Center marked a new era for Big Bend Community College and the surrounding communities it serves.

ATEC, the largest project completed in the history of the college, was filled with more than 300 people at the opening ceremony Wednesday, including BBCC staff, project donors, architects, artists and local politicians who came to celebrate and show support for the new building.

As BBCC President Bill Bonaudi began the ceremony, a sense of pride filled the Eric and Catherine Peterson Gallery in recognition of the $7.5 million that was raised locally to fund part of the project.

"Everyone pitched in," Bonaudi said. "This is your building for you to utilize and I hope that you will."

An additional $7.5 million was appropriated by the state to build the research library, bringing the total cost to build ATEC and the library to $15 million.

In between applauses, Bonaudi made a point of referring to ATEC as a vision that will enable BBCC to reach out to more people not only for education, but also to promote economic benefits in the years to come.

Representatives at the state and county level agreed.

"There is definitely a link between higher education and economic development," said state Rep. Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake. Holmquist emphasized the need to provide access to educational facilities such as ATEC that can provide services to people locally.

"The benefits to future generations is undeniable," said Grant County Commissioner LeRoy Allison. "Education is a cornerstone to our future and the county is honored to have been a part of that."

As the ceremony continued, guest speakers shared stories of the college's history and ATEC's early beginnings.

Mike Tabler, an attorney in Ephrata who came to represent the Paul Lauzier Charitable Foundation, talked about the farmland Lauzier deeded to the college and how contributions such as that demonstrate support in the area for higher education. "When Paul made the donation of farmland years ago it made a statement that he supported this wonderful commitment that is BBCC," Tabler said. "This is a symbol of our commitment to BBCC and its students today, tomorrow and in the future."

State Sen. Joyce Mulliken, R-Ephrata, recalled receiving a framed picture from Bonaudi with a digital image of what would eventually be ATEC. As Bonaudi continued making trips to Olympia to represent the needs of the college "I hung that picture in my office for many years," Mulliken said, adding that she looked forward to being able to hang a picture of the completed building.

Bob Wills of Bernardo Wills Architects also commented on the design of ATEC. Wills said the design of the 63,000-square-foot building with its central location on campus is intended to be integrated with the rest of the college. Bernardo Wills Architects began preliminary designs for the building in 1996, though several other firms also contributed to the project over the years.

Inside, artwork decorates the lobby of the Eric and Catherine Peterson Gallery and the main entrance of the library. As ATEC is a state funded project, the state requires one half of one percent of the construction costs to be allocated for public art, said Kris Tucker, executive director with the Washington State Arts Commission.

Tucker pointed out that pieces such as "Sky of Hope Lake of Dreams," a large-scale stained glass window placed above ATEC's main entrance and created by Montana artist Dana Boussard, is one of 4,600 art pieces that are part of the state's art collection. "You won't find something like this any place else in the world and that is because the piece was made especially for Moses Lake," Tucker said.

Local artist Kim Matthews Wheaton, painted a landscape called "Soap Lake" which is displayed in the research library. Wheaton said she was inspired to create the piece out of an appreciation for the natural geography of Eastern Washington. "This gives people a sense of pride in the area," Wheaton said of displaying art in ATEC where people from different communities can come together.

ATEC includes the Paul Lauzier University Center to help local people earn bachelor's degrees, and a training and conference center with video conferencing capabilities. The ZIPP fiber network will be used to provide educational, training and conferencing opportunities. A new dining commons is also included in the project. BBCC students began using the building on Monday.

"ATEC has so much potential for this entire district, not just for Moses Lake," Bonaudi also said at the opening Wednesday, in reference to college district No. 18, including Grant, Adams and part of Lincoln counties.