Last September, the ϳԹ Board of Trustees approved construction of new facility for the College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology, as a prioritized project within the “Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future” initiative. Since that time the programming, schematic and development design was completed and the final design and budget were prepared.
At a special meeting held Aug. 27, the ϳԹ Board of Trustees Finance and Administration Committee authorized a resolution that will permit the issuance of contracts and the beginning of construction on the building’s foundation. The committee action, passed by a unanimous vote, also caps the cost of the project at $17,750,000.
The request for the expedited approval was made in order to meet the time-sensitive schedule associated with the installation of foundations and other underground work prior to the onset of winter weather. This is a critical first project in a sequence of relocations enabling the overall "Foundations of Excellence" program.
During the committee meeting ϳԹ President Lester A. Lefton said he was excited that the project was moving forward and that steel would be in the ground soon.
The proposed building is approximately 55,200 gross square feet and will include air traffic control training rooms in a lower level, classrooms and shop areas on the first floor, and faculty offices and classrooms on the second floor. Approximately 6,500 square feet of the building will be shelled for future completion.
ϳԹ’s College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology has experienced near double-digit growth in recent years, with nearly 1,000 students. The college offers a Bachelor of Science degree in four areas: aeronautics, applied engineering, technology and construction management.
For more information on ϳԹ’s College of Applied Engineering, Sustainability and Technology, visit www.kent.edu/caest.
For more information about ϳԹ’s “Foundations of Excellence” initiative, visit www.kent.edu/foundations.
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Media Contacts:
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595