Progress continues on Eastern Wyoming Community College career and tech center – Scottsbluff Star Herald

TORRINGTON, Wyo. Returning Eastern Wyoming College students, as well as community members, will find a new addition to the EWC campus when the fall semester begins in August.

EWC President Richard Patterson hosted a media tour March 31 to update progress on the $23 million project.

Well have so much more to offer our students, Patterson said during the tour. The community and the legislature have been very supportive of this project, providing the funding that includes a county bond issue.

It will be an asset for many years, providing educational opportunities for not only the youth in our county and Wyoming, but those from other states.

Standing in the open floor plan spacefor the cosmetology department are site superintendents and far right, Dusty Nash, project superintendent for FCI Constructors LLC. It will also include a barber chairfor the first barber school in Wyoming. Private rooms are to the right for waxing, facials, and other services.

Tami Afdahl, left, EWC director of college relations, and Ron Laher, EWC vice president of administrative services, stand in the entrance to the new Career and Technical Education Center on Friday, March 31, at the conclusion of a media tour. The building will be completed in June, in time to prepare it for fall semester students.

Eastern Wyoming College President Rick Patterson follows Tami Afdahl, EWC director of college relations, up the main staircase in the Career and Technical Education Center during a media tour on March 27. The 69,000 square foot building also will house Community Connections, for community educationofferings and an auditorium.

EWC personnel and project supervisors pose on the main staircase of the new Eastern Wyoming College Career and Technical Education Center Friday afternoon, March 31. Far left on thebottom step is EWC Vice President for Administrative Services Ron Laher. EWC President Rick Patterson, in black, and without a hard hat, is near the top.

Dusty Nash, project superintendent for FCI Constructors of Wyoming LLC, demonstrates a feature included in each of the 72 student welding booths, as well as in the three instructor's booths. The booths are distributed in threeshops on the main floor of thenew Career and Technical Education Center.

The main floor hallway serves as a supply depot during construction, but will be a hub of activity when 2017 fall semester classes begin. Facing north, to the left will be the Commons andCommunity Connections, and to the right will be cosmetology and the welding department.

The main floor hallway serves as a supply depot during construction, but will be a hub of activity when 2017 fall semester classes begin. Facing north, to the left will be the Commons andCommunity Connections, and to the right will be cosmetology and the welding department.

A room full of pipes and mechanical elements backs up the welding department in the new Career and Technical Education Center on the Eastern Wyoming College campus in Torrington, Wyo.

Hosting the media tour of the new Career and Technical Education Center on Friday, March 31, was Eastern Wyoming College President Rick Patterson, far left, and site project superintends and supervisors.

This double-sided fireplace will be the main feature of the second floor where the health technology department is located, as well as cosmetology classrooms.

Standing in the open floor plan spacefor the cosmetology department are site superintendents and far right, Dusty Nash, project superintendent for FCI Constructors LLC. It will also include a barber chairfor the first barber school in Wyoming. Private rooms are to the right for waxing, facials, and other services.

Tami Afdahl, left, EWC director of college relations, and Ron Laher, EWC vice president of administrative services, stand in the entrance to the new Career and Technical Education Center on Friday, March 31, at the conclusion of a media tour. The building will be completed in June, in time to prepare it for fall semester students.

Eastern Wyoming College President Rick Patterson follows Tami Afdahl, EWC director of college relations, up the main staircase in the Career and Technical Education Center during a media tour on March 27. The 69,000 square foot building also will house Community Connections, for community educationofferings and an auditorium.

EWC personnel and project supervisors pose on the main staircase of the new Eastern Wyoming College Career and Technical Education Center Friday afternoon, March 31. Far left on thebottom step is EWC Vice President for Administrative Services Ron Laher. EWC President Rick Patterson, in black, and without a hard hat, is near the top.

Dusty Nash, project superintendent for FCI Constructors of Wyoming LLC, demonstrates a feature included in each of the 72 student welding booths, as well as in the three instructor's booths. The booths are distributed in threeshops on the main floor of thenew Career and Technical Education Center.

The main floor hallway serves as a supply depot during construction, but will be a hub of activity when 2017 fall semester classes begin. Facing north, to the left will be the Commons andCommunity Connections, and to the right will be cosmetology and the welding department.

The main floor hallway serves as a supply depot during construction, but will be a hub of activity when 2017 fall semester classes begin. Facing north, to the left will be the Commons andCommunity Connections, and to the right will be cosmetology and the welding department.

A room full of pipes and mechanical elements backs up the welding department in the new Career and Technical Education Center on the Eastern Wyoming College campus in Torrington, Wyo.

Hosting the media tour of the new Career and Technical Education Center on Friday, March 31, was Eastern Wyoming College President Rick Patterson, far left, and site project superintends and supervisors.

This double-sided fireplace will be the main feature of the second floor where the health technology department is located, as well as cosmetology classrooms.

The 69,000-square foot Career & Technical Education Center houses Community Connections, cosmetology, health technology and welding programs, including classrooms, an auditorium, computer centers and a student commons area. The new building allows for increased enrollment in each of the programs.

Cosmetology is in the front of the building on the ground floor. Included in the open floor plan will be a barber chair for the first barber training program in Wyoming. Private rooms are available for skin treatments, tanning and provide the potential to offer massage in the future. One cosmetology classroom is on the ground floor next to the service area, and two are on the second floor.

Health technology students will find a new lab setting on the second floor that includes hospital room environments.

There are head wall units just like those in hospitals, Patterson said during a stop on the tour. The restroom and shower are like those in hospitals, too.

We now have two great training rooms for our CNA (certified nursing assistant) students. It is set up like our regular nursing program on the Douglas (Wyoming) campus.

He added that a local nursing program is not out of the question in the future.

The welding program covers the north half of the ground floor. It offers individual welding booths for as many as 72 students, and includes three special training booths for instructors. These units are larger, making it possible for a student and instructor to move freely. The booths are divided into three shops. Also available is a separate machine tooling training room. Four classrooms and space for certification testing by American Welding Society welding inspectors are included in the layout.

Dusty Nash, project superintendent for FCI Constructors of Wyoming LLC, the lead contractor on the entire project, said the metal booths in the welding department were fabricated at a Gering business, and that one of those involved in manufacturing them is a former EWC welding student.

Community Connections is a combination of community education offerings, as well as the workforce office. Located on the ground floor, it includes classrooms, a computer center and a meeting room.

Construction should be complete by June. The welding department will be the first to move, and furnishing the rest of the departments will begin.

According to Ron Laher, EWC vice president of administrative services, $250,000 has been designated for new furnishings. This is in addition to current items that will be moved.

The project is funded with a $20 million appropriation from the Wyoming Legislature and a $3.1 million in general obligation bonds approved by Goshen County voters in November 2014. In addition to major contractors, 33 subcontractors, including several local businesses, have been involved.

According to Tami Afdahl, director of college relations, the public will have an opportunity to visit the complex during a dedication ceremony in August.

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Progress continues on Eastern Wyoming Community College career and tech center - Scottsbluff Star Herald