NASHVILLE - Tennessee officials last week gave the green light for Cleveland State Community College to proceed with a major revitalization plan that starts with the design on its first new building in 45 years, a two-story, $20.57 million Health and Science Building.
State Building Commission officials approved the project, which also includes renovation of the existing Mary T. Barker Humanities Building. The total project is estimated at $25 million, with the college required to provide a 10 percent match.
CSCC President Dr. Bill Seymour said in a statement, "the building will be state-of-the-art and will instantly become one of the very best facilities for training health care providers in our region."
At a presentation last week to building commission members, Chuck V. Griffin, president and CEO of the Knoxville-based architectural firm BarberMcMurray, said the project offers an "opportunity to revitalize" the 1960s-era campus and fulfill part of the college's strategic plan for growth.
"Perhaps more importantly," Griffin said, "the health science center fulfills the college's promise to students by providing much-needed space for technology, state-of-the-art health and science and modern teaching techniques that will produce nursing and health science graduates who are truly ready for the world."
The two-story, 53,617-square-foot building is targeted for completion by December 2020, Griffin said.
It will provide space for nursing, EMT and medical assistant skills and simulation labs, state-of-the-art biology and microbiology labs, five general classrooms, three conference rooms, student study and collaboration space, faculty offices and 2,400 square feet of multifunction space for classes and events.
There's a hospital simulation lab planned as well.
Plans call for keeping largely with the 1960s-style modern architectural design of the original campus, Griffin said. The building's location will make it highly visible from Interstate 75, he said, noting the city of Cleveland has plans to improve roads bordering the site, including a new traffic circle.
Moreover, Griffin said, there's opportunity for a future pedestrian bridge.
In the community college's news release, CSCC President Seymour said officials are "very thankful to those who contributed to our capital campaign as well as our legislators and state officials for helping make this a reality."
He said the community college hopes to have an official groundbreaking in August around the start of the fall semester.
Alisha Fox, vice president of Cleveland State's finance and operations, called it "an exciting day for Cleveland State and our community."
Contact Andy Sher at asher@timesfreepress.com or 615-255-0550. Follow him on Twitter @AndySher1.