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Construction ahead of schedule at MAC

PARK HILLS – When it comes to the major construction project taking place on Mineral Area College’s Park Hills campus, Business Manager Rusty Straughan is one happy man.

“Things are going great on this phase of the project and it looks like we’re still about one month ahead of schedule,” he said.

Brockmiller Construction of Farmington has had good weather on its side in the months since it started work on the job, according to Straughan. He added that work on the yet to be named second story addition to the technology building is proceeding well with windows having recently arrived, allowing interior work on the project to pick up speed.

“The painting inside is done and the lights are in,” he said. “The doors are hung and the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) are in.”

In the new business office, Straughan said the three cashier windows and cabinetry has been installed and work is continuing on student services. Once the windows were installed, work on the floor covering — some tile, some carpet — began.

“The upstairs of the new addition will house the school’s zoology, philosophy and botany departments,” said Straughan. “The floors will not be carpeted, but sealed with a shiny finish. It’s first class.”

A crossover from the second floor to the soon-to-be refurbished library will feature a unique s-curve design with a slight slope, making it readily accessible to the physically disabled.

“A large window allows for a nice view of the quadrangle and the northeast corner is glassed in,” explained Straughan. “When completed it will feature wireless Internet and offer a nice study area for our students.”

Elevators from the first to second floor of the addition have been installed, but aren’t yet operable.

“The upstairs of the current technology building will house our physics and geology departments and feature big, nice labs,” said Straughan. “The tables are in both of the labs and they will be ready for the spring semester in January.”

 Five new faculty offices have been added — a large adjunct office, four interior offices and a student study room.

“The old Central Methodist University area will now be the home for our horticulture and agriculture departments,” explained Straughan. “CMU will now be located on the first floor of the arts and sciences building where the geology classroom was.”

He added that the night maintenance room was gutted, but new walls have been put in.

“Our projected move date wasn’t going to be until Christmas, but now it may be as early as the first part of December,” said Straughan. “Brockmiller’s project manager, Chuck Mahurin and his workers have done an outstanding job for us.”

Work has now begun on the library with the addition of several large portable buildings that will serve as its temporary home while the project is being completed. Straughan said the renovated library will feature five new classrooms and a research library. Downstairs, the library will have an up-to-date technology library with WiFi.

“The library will have energy efficient lighting and windows,” he explained.

Straughan said he still believes the project’s second phase will be completed by mid-July and ready for use beginning in the 2013 fall semester.

“If it weren’t for the taxpayers of our taxing district this project wouldn’t have happened,” said Straughan.

Kevin Jenkins is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or kjenkins@dailyjournalonline.com

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