Glen Oaks Community College plans to celebrate two campus projects in an event called “Transformation X2,” on Thursday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Guests will take part in the kickoff of the E & F Wings Capital Outlay Renovation Project, which includes the E. J. Shaheen Learning Commons, Art Studio, and Allied Health and IT Labs. In addition, the complete exterior will be reskinned with a metal insulated panel system.
Following the Capital Outlay Kickoff, guests will join in celebration of the grand reopening of the Auto Lab and the completion of the new Welding Technology Labs –- projects which have been in reconstruction since last spring.
“Both projects were included as part of the original $7.3 million state capital outlay plan submitted in 2018,” said Dr. David H. Devier, Glen Oaks president. “This project encompassed the entire north side of campus.”
“But we saw things change in 2020 as a result of the pandemic,” said Devier. “Not only was the project put on hold by the state, but with the rising cost of building materials, it was expected to go over budget by $2.5 million. This forced us to reduce the scope of work.”
A decision was soon made to remove the Tech building work from the state project; however, it would move ahead with college funding instead.