Cape Cod Community College will be receiving $25 million in capital construction bond funds which will go towards a proposed new science and engineering center on campus.
4Cs president, John Cox, says the project has a total price tag of $38 million and will take three and-a-half years to complete.
Cox says the remaining $13 million must come from other sources, including the college itself, the business community, and the generosity of private donors.
“The need for our new center for the sciences and engineering has been a top priority for us for a very long time,” stated President Cox, as he gratefully acknowledged the State’s investment in Cape Cod, but added that this was only part of the total project cost. “We’re really talking about a $38 million project. The remaining $13 million must come from other sources, including the institution itself, the business community, especially the science and technology sector of the region’s economy, and the generosity of private donors,” he explained.
The existing Science Building and Lecture Hall Complex that the new building will replace has been on the State’s list for significant renovation or replacement needs for several years. It is the largest academic building on campus and is used for instruction of all laboratory courses. A 2015 Study found it was cost prohibitive to renovate the structure, and the result would still not appropriately accommodate academic needs. A new building was the most effective solution to a long list of challenges.
“The College had completed the study and conceptual design phase for a new science and engineering building three years ago, but state budget challenges put that project on hold, and ultimately it was abandoned. A new proposal was submitted and we are very excited that the state has accepted the new approach. It is now up to us to bring the community on board, raise the additional funds, and use the State’s investment to better serve future generations of students and the community,” explained President Cox.
While the College engages the community, a new study will identify the teaching spaces necessary to support our students and community. Following that planning process, basic drawings of building configurations will be created and discussed.
From there, all of the formal architectural designs will be completed, fixtures identified, and furnishings chosen to meet the teachings needs. This is a highly detailed process, with significant campus input. Once done, construction begins.
The construction phase itself is estimated to take about 18 to 24 months. The goal will be to get the project done, as quickly as possible.
At this time, the plan is to build the structure immediately adjacent to the existing Science Building and Lecture Halls. Once completed, the old building would be removed. This phased construction process should be the least disruptive to the College’s class and laboratory schedule.
“This is a pivotal moment in the life of our College,” stated President Cox. “We are excited, embarking on this journey that engages our community and ultimately provides state-of-the-art facilities supporting the outstanding instruction of our students that has been the hallmark of this institution,” he concluded.