Chicago Construction News staff writer
Construction has started on the $17.8 million Career and Technical Education (CTE) facility at Spoon River College in Macomb, with funding from the Rebuild Illinois Capital program.
The project includes a complete renovation of the Macomb East Building, the former site of Hellig-Meyers Furniture. The new CTE facility will include more than 66,000 sq. ft. of administrative and faculty offices, student support services, classrooms, and lab space, including simulation suites for applied learning. It will also accommodate a bookstore and student center.
Exterior walls, interior insulation, and electrical systems will be upgraded or replaced. Additionally, geothermal heating and cooling systems will be considered.
Architecture firm Hastings & Chivetta designed the building, and Hein Construction Company, Inc. will serve as the general contractor.
The new campus will allow for the expansion of Spoon River College’s existing programs, including the nursing program, and for the creation of new programs such as HVAC, robotics, and industrial maintenance. Current and future students not only gain more career choices, but they also gain the ability to receive the education and skills training needed close to where they live, something especially important for adult students who may be juggling family responsibilities while attending classes.
“Spoon River College plays an important role in educating students for employment in the Macomb area, particularly in health care, and the new building will give us the space to substantially increase the number of students in career program courses,” college president Curt Oldfield said in a statement. “This has been a long time coming and we are excited for construction to start.”
