College sees changes for fall
College sees changes for fall
New fine arts building to be built
MOSES LAKE — Students returning to Big Bend Community College this fall will notice a few changes to the campus, including a new bookstore, renovated performing arts stage and a reconfigured dining system.
In addition to these changes, the college is planning a new fine arts building to be complete in November 2007.
Catherine Holestine said the improvements are being paid for with state allocated funds.
The new fine arts building and theater renovations cost an estimated $3.7 million, she said. The college planned to finish its site design by September and hire a contractor by Dec. 22. Current plans call for a one-story, 11,000 square-foot building with at least two lecture classrooms and a gallery encased in glass.
Big Bend does need a new fine arts building, said art instructor Rie Palkovic. When Palkovic began working at the college in 1998, the fine arts program consisted of a ceramics classroom in the basement and one classroom upstairs with 30 students crammed at three tables. When the program expanded, the classrooms immediately filled up, Palkovic said.
"We're overflowing at this point, too," she said. More space will encourage the fine arts program to grow, she said. Another benefit of the new building is the ability to open windows, a perk the current building lacks.
"It just would be nice to be able to have some fresh air at times," Palkovic said.
Right now, the building is isolated from the rest of campus, and with a new building, that would change, she said. Another benefit of the new building is its location closer to campus, she said.
Other changes on campus include an update to the heating and air conditioning system and new carpet in the performing arts theater. The original system was installed in the 1940s.
The new bookstore in the administration building features additional shelving, wider aisles and a separate buy-back counter. Doors in the building have been removed along the main hallway to give the space a more open feel.
Some changes are designed to reduce the cost of attendance and free space for the computer science program, said Holestine. Instead of traveling to more than one building to take classes, computer science students can now take their related courses in one building.
Students staying in dorms will no longer have meal plan options, said Holestine, public information officer for the college. Students living in dorms will now share a common kitchen instead of buying meals on campus.
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