Central Oregon Community College’s Board of Directors voted to approve $130,000 for Phase One of the new residence hall on Oct. 23. This phase will decide on a guaranteed maximum price for the building and prepare project planners for a final presentation in January 2014, when the board will make the final decision of whether or not to go forward with the residence hall.

“There are multiple phases of design,” Alicia Moore, dean of students at COCC, said. “At any phase, the board of directors has the power to say yes, continue or no, cancel the project.”

Before construction can begin, design has to be completed and a maximum price has to be set. This is Phase One, and it’s what the project team is moving forward on.

“The contractor can say ‘this is what the building will cost,’” Moore said. “We won’t go over it.”

Right now, the building cost is sitting at $16.4 million, according to Moore, but some of that cost is contingencies and won’t be reflected in the final cost, which can’t go over $16 million.

Whether or not the residence hall becomes a reality by fall 2014 “depends on the numbers,” according to Gordon Price, director of student life.

“If it comes in at that $16 million target,” Price said, “it’s probably going to happen. …The board is still positive on wanting to see this passed.”

This is one of the biggest projects the college has ever undertaken cost-wise, according to Price.

“It’s been a long process getting to this point,” Price said. “I’m anxious to get to where it’s yes or no.”

If the board ends up turning down the new residence hall, the focus will go back to Juniper Hall and what administration can do there.

If the board approves the new residence hall, Price and other members of administration such as Paul Wheeler, residence hall director, will begin moving forward with programs.

“[The new residence hall] is going to be triple what we have right now,” Price said. “We have to have a more robust management plan.”

Scott Greenstone | The Broadside
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