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NICC Plans Renovation of IT Building Posted 9 July 2008 The first building built on NICC’s Calmar campus is slated for a 21stcentury upgrade. The Industrial Technology building, built in 1966 to begin classes for then-Area One Vocational Technical School, has not had any major renovations in 42 years. The planned construction upgrade is good news for students in industrial technology programs, including students in the Automotive Technology program who will directly benefit from new facilities and lab areas. NICC students and graduates have solid job placement rates in the auto tech program, and that success depends upon teaching in state-of-the-art facilities. According to NICC plant services staff, the only changes the building has undergone in 42 years are the addition of walls for expanding classroom space and periodic repairs to the roof. About a dozen classrooms and six industrial tech shops are located in the Industrial Technology building. John Noel, NICC vice president for finance and administration, is overseeing the college’s renovation and construction projects throughout the college district. This is the first project on the Calmar campus to be funded by bond levy proceeds. "We’re working on the Industrial Technology building project, architects are in the process of gathering information from faculty and staff to see what we want to accomplish with renovations, and then we will decide when to begin construction,” said Noel. He said architects gathered input at the Peosta campus on June 10 and visited the Calmar campus on June 11. “In terms of beginning renovation on the building, we don’t expect to start this summer. We need to work around class and program schedules which will likely prevent us from doing much of the construction until next summer. We’ll see what improvements we can make with minimal disruption to teaching,” Noel said. NICC’s Associate in Applied Science (AAS)-Automotive Technology program is a popular offering at the college, enjoys consistent enrollment figures and draws interest from students throughout the Calmar area. Like other industrial tech programs or science classes with a lab requirement, auto tech instructors need special work areas to teach and train students. In the 21st century, there have been remarkable advances in technical design, construction and complexity of automobiles. New technologies to improve exhaust emissions, engine performance and fuel consumption have overwhelmed the job market with a need for highly trained technicians. NICC’s new construction at the Industrial Technology program will seek to emulate the highly technical, advanced auto mechanics operations in the working world. Although the specifics of the building upgrade are not fully developed, NICC administrators and staff are providing input to the architectural firm Invision to enhance the architects’ understanding of the college’s organization, student and community needs, and to help estimate costs. Other programs included in this renovation project are the building materials management, carpentry, construction technology, computer technology and industrial and commercial/residential electrician programs. For more information on NICC college construction projects, contact John Noel, vice president for finance and administration, at (563) 562-3263 or (800)728-2256, ext. 202 or visit the web at www.nicc.edu/about/construction. To learn more about any of NICC’s programs, visit www.nicc.edu/programs.

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