Job Corps dorm nears completion

MOSES LAKE - The new dorm on the Columbia Basin Job Corps'

campus could be completed by the end of the month.

The building won't be ready for students because furniture needs to

be ordered, explained Peggy Hendren, center director.

But students are noticing the progress.

MOSES LAKE - The new dorm on the Columbia Basin Job Corps' campus could be completed by the end of the month.

The building won't be ready for students because furniture needs to be ordered, explained Peggy Hendren, center director.

But students are noticing the progress.

"The students are excited," she said. "They are concerned about who goes in."

She replied to their enthusiasm with, "let's come up with plans on how to do it."

Hendren is also excited about how the project is progressing.

The project was on the books to be completed earlier, but it became delayed because of funding issues.

She recalled that upon her arrival to Moses Lake in January 2005, it was believed the dorm would be completed in 2009.

Later when federal stimulus dollars became available, a request for "shovel-ready" projects was announced, she said.

Job Corps' dorm was a "shovel-ready" project and received the stimulus funding to pay for construction.

No existing dorms are planned for demolition. The new dorm adds to the center's capacity.

It's because the 250 student capacity center was increased to 290 students, which means all the dorms are needed.

There are many benefits of having the updated building.

The nearly 28,000 square-foot building holds 136 beds.

In contrast, a portion of the existing facilities measure 15,740 square feet, with another building totaling 16,000 square feet.

About 80 students live in each of the existing dorms.

The new dorm boasts natural lighting indoors and a computer lab, along with a more modern appearance.

Instead of between six and eight students per dorm room, four students are housed in each room.

Information about the project's cost was unavailable.