The National Park College (NPC) Board of Trustees approved the expansion of the Lab Sciences building with two new science labs Wednesday during their regular monthly meeting.
Vice President for Finance and Administration, Steve Trusty asked the Board to approve an additional $4.2 million for construction projects as part of phase one of the campus master plan, bringing the total cost to $20,750,000. Phase one of the campus master plan was approved by the Board in August 2017. The project included construction of the new student commons facility, a new Marine Technology building, a new entrance to campus from Mountain Pine Road and renovation of the Fisher building.
Included in the estimate are construction costs, architects and engineering fees, furnishings and equipment for the Lab Sciences addition and the Fisher building renovation. Trusty said the College plans to cover the increase using existing cash reserves, state grant funds, an Oaklawn Foundation grant, and refund money from Hill & Cox following construction of the Student Commons building. “We are asking for this increase today because we would like to take advantage of cost savings by incorporating the Lab Sciences addition into this project,” said Trusty.
The addition to the Lab Sciences building will expand both the first and second floor of the building’s west side. The bottom floor will be a new physics and engineering lab. The top floor will be a new chemistry lab. The labs will allow NPC to offer upper-level courses in organic chemistry, biochemistry, and physics as part of the four-year degree partnership with Southern Arkansas University.
Renovations in the Fisher building will include retrofitting the first floor to house the Hospitality and Tourism program and the Innovative Technologies Center (ITC). The Oaklawn Foundation announced a $400,000 investment in the NPC Hospitality and Tourism program in April of last year. Funds from the grant will be used to pay for new equipment, construction and renovation to create a 7,500 square foot Hospitality and Tourism Center. The ITC will relocate to campus from its current location on Albert Pike Road.
NPC President, Dr. John Hogan shared his appreciation to the Board and to the Oaklawn Foundation for the continued investment in campus growth. “The projects you approved today will have a lasting impact on our students. I am especially excited about the science labs because it further expands our partnership with SAU and allows us to offer upper-level course for our students to complete their bachelor’s degree here in Hot Springs.” He said the College would continue to expand four-year degree opportunities for students.
He concluded the meeting with a summary of the year’s accomplishments. He said the momentum from the year continues with more investments in student success. “We have so much to look forward to in the new year. While phase one of our campus master plan will be wrapping up with the completion of these projects over the next few months, we are already beginning to study what our next steps might look like for phase two.”
