Monday, Sep. 14, 2009

CBC building keeps track of its footprint

By Sara Schilling, Herald staff writer

There's a display in the hallway of the newly renovated Business Building at Columbia Basin College in Pasco that features three flat-screened monitors and an exposed portion of brick wall.

The monitors represent the college's commitment to the future, with information on the environmentally friendly methods used to build the building and its daily consumption of resources such as water.

The brick wall is a nod to the past. It was part of the original facility built in the late '50s.

With the building, "We were able to take the old and turn it into the new," said Al Downs, CBC's director of capital projects.

The facility will open to students when fall quarter starts later this month. It cost about $6 million, with the money to pay for it coming from the state. It was intended to be a renovation project, but because of careful planning officials essentially were able to replace the building for the same price, Downs said.

"This is an example to the community of the college's commitment to being a good steward," he said.

Construction took about a year and wrapped up this summer.

The building is just under 24,000 square feet, which is about 5,000 square feet more than the old building. It has nine classrooms, a computer lab, a digital lab, a marketing lab and nine faculty offices.

It was designed by RGU Architecture & Planning in Asotin and the general contractor was Chervenell Construction of Kennewick.

The building has features intended to help the environment, including a solar-heated domestic water system, Downs said. The lights and faucets are on sensors to conserve electricity and the building materials came from within 500 miles of the college, he said.

The building will hold the college's business programs and the new bachelor of applied science in applied management program.

Some faculty and staff members were there last week getting their spaces ready for the new academic year.

Gene Holand, an associate professor, said he used to have about 25 students in his introductory marketing class. But his new specially designed room has more space, which will allow more students to sign up, he said.

"(Students) really see the potential of what we can do now" with the new space, he said. "It's a beautiful building."

Faculty and staff were able to give input on what they wanted to see in the building.

Downs said various teaching styles were kept in mind as it was being designed and built. For example, some classrooms have projector screens that pull down in the middle of the large white boards at the front of class. Others have the screen off to the side allowing for both to be used at the same.

The building also has safety features such as a electronic sign in the hallway that's connected to the fire alarm and mass notification system. The sign read, "Welcome to the new 'B' Building" last week, but in an emergency it could provide other needed information, Downs said.

The building also has two foyers with tables and chairs where students can relax or study before class.

Fall classes start Sept. 21. A dedication and ribbon-cutting of the new Business Building is 11 a.m. Sept. 25.