SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Arkansas Community College completed the steel structure of its Washington County Center on Friday, marking another milestone for the project.
A crowd of about 70 gave a muffled applause as they applauded through gloves as the last beam was placed during a topping-out ceremony. It was a cold 35 degrees as the wind passed by, the sky a solid gray.
It's been eight months since officials broke ground June 27, a sunny, summer day.
"We got a lot done in a short period of time, but we have a long way to go," said Sam Hollis, president of Milestone Construction, at the building's 20-acre site west of Arvest Ballpark on Watkins Avenue. "We're not going to let our foot off the gas pedal."
Milestone Construction is the general contractor for the project. Hight Jackson Architects designed the building.
The project is on time and on budget, Jim Lay, executive director of facilities and construction management, told the college's Land Use Committee on Thursday.
The utilities are tied into Springdale's system; the first floor slab has been poured as has half of the second-floor slab, he said. Work on the exterior stone will begin in February.
Furniture for some of the main areas -- such as the library study area, faculty offices and student support services -- has been selected, said Debi Buckley, vice president of administration.
Decisions for classroom and lab furniture will be next.
The committee saw photos of the building's progress at Thursday's meeting. Some were aerial, which showed the building's curvature.
"It's very neat to go out there and see the shape of the building," Buckley said.
The 38,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to be completed in October, giving officials time to move in before the spring 2020 semester begins.
The building will consolidate the 25,000-square-feet the college leases in three locations in Springdale. General education courses, Early College Experience Program classes for high school students earning college credits as well as various health profession courses will be offered at the center.
About 36 percent of the college's 7,700 students for the 2017-18 school year lived in Washington County, according to college statistics.
The Northwest Arkansas Community College Foundation has raised at least $4.5 million of the $12 million goal. A fundraising update wasn't given at Thursday's meeting or Friday's event.
The college's Integrated Design Lab, which is under construction on its Bentonville campus, is also on schedule to be completed by July, Lay reported Thursday. The topping-out for that building was Jan. 9.
The slab has been poured, and the roof installation is expected to be completed the week of Feb. 4.
"We have these two buildings almost running parallel," Lay said.
The lab will house the workforce construction management and visual arts programs as they have similar needs in terms of tools, resources and ventilation.
The 24,000-square-foot building will cost $5.5 million and be paid for with property tax money.
NW News on 01/26/2019