Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Officials from Mesalands Community College, the City of Tucumcari and the Parkhill, Smith and Cooper firm pose with gold-painted shovels in Building A's parking lot as part of a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of a $1.2 million remodeling project there.
Mesalands Community College on Thursday held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a $1.2 million remodel of its Academic and Student Success Center the college's president said would be "a major turning point" for the institution.
About 60 people attended the event on the west side of the center, also known as Building A on the campus. Officials from Mesalands, City of Tucumcari and architect Melissa Walker of the Parkhill, Smith and Cooper firm of Amarillo that is leading the project held gold-painted shovels in the building's parking lot for the photo opportunity.
The renovations are part of the college's 10-year master plan, approved by the board of trustees last fall, that converts nearby 11th Street into the main entrance to the campus and makes the building's west side more welcoming to prospective students with large windows, flagpoles and trees facing the street.
Also part of the master plan are new residence halls, a black-box theater and a 9-acre solar farm. The master plan, slated to be completed by 2032, was estimated to cost nearly $20 million.
In brief remarks before the groundbreaking, Mesalands President Gregg Busch said the building's renovation would create "a beautiful facility dedicated solely to student success" and would be "a major turning point" for the college's future.
Busch touted Mesalands' being ranked seventh nationally in affordability and first in the state in graduation rates and student retention. He thanked many in the community for their continued support to the college over the years.
Tucumcari Mayor Ruth Ann Litchfield also gave brief remarks, saying Mesalands remains "a very large asset to our community."
Jim Morgan, vice president of campus affairs and external relations, said before the ceremony he anticipated renovations to the Academic and Student Success Center being finished by late February if the project isn't slowed by supply-chain issues. WWRC Complete Construction Services of Clovis is the general contractor.
Morgan said one complication is Building A's roof recently was found to be more deteriorated than expected and will have to be replaced for about $170,000. Funds for those repairs will come from the college's general fund, he said. The remodel project itself will be covered by general-obligation bonds.
