CTE Listening Session begin, next one set for Oct. 22

Design plans are officially underway with campus and community input being the keystone step of the project.

Last week, TVCC and its architectural firm, CTA Architects, hosted meetings for staff, faculty, advisory committee members and community friends, to share their ideas, hopes, dreams and requirements for the new Career & Technical Center. The current Vo-Tech building is 18,000 square feet but the new plans call for a remodel and expansion add more than 12,000 square feet as well as new technology and infrastructure.

Another community listening session will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 22, in Weese 110. Everyone is welcome to attend. Please contact Cathy Yasuda at cyasuda@tvcc.cc for more information.

The architects divided participants into small groups and led discussion on the following topics: hopes and dreams for the new building, what worked well in the current facility, and what is critical for the new design. Participants also had the opportunity to use 3D models with various building elements to map-out prospective designs including entrance areas, classroom space, offices and open areas.

CTA Architects also walked the groups thorough what to expect next with the project which includes schematic design, design development, construction documents, plan review, bid and award and construction.

The timeline for the project is approximately 18 months. Contractor bids are expected to be selected January 2019 with construction and ground-breaking planned for March of 2019. The building is planned to be completed May 2020 with an estimated final move-in date in July 2020.

The $6 million project is funded by $3 million in capital construction from the State of Oregon and a $3 million grant from the US Department of Economic Development Administration. TVCC also plans to raise another $200,000 for equipment for the state-of-the-art building.

During the remodel and expansion, current CTE staff and faculty offices have been relocated to the Oregon Trail Building. New office space, completed with Internet connectivity, was also added to the TVCC Livestock Center to accommodate the move.