New, Improved HCC Opens Doors
Expansion adds 175,000 s/f of space to downtown campus
Business New Haven 09/29/2008
by M.C.B.
BRIDGEPORT - The $55 million renovation and expansion of Housatonic Community College will be unveiled at an October 11 open house at the Bridgeport College.
The new and renovated space consists of 174,500 square feet housing three academic departments: Humanities, Business, and Behavioral and Social Sciences. It includes 30 classrooms, ten computer classrooms, special-purpose rooms for computer repair and networks, early childhood education, labs for foreign languages and English as a Second Language, and faculty offices.
Also included among the new or rehabbed space are a new college bookstore, a wellness center for aerobics, cardio and dance, a satellite cafeteria, and a 500-seat event center.
A ribbon-cutting replete with dignitaries including Gov. M. Jodi Rell and Park City Mayor Bill Finch will take place at 1:30 p.m. October 7 in the courtyard at the front of the newly renovated and expanded facility - formerly the Sears Building - now named Beacon Hall.
For the October 11 open house, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free workshops, tours of the building, entertainment and light refreshments will be the carte du jour.
Said Rell in a statement: "This expansion project has doubled the size of Housatonic Community College, allowing the college to offer greater higher educational opportunities for the Bridgeport region. It is gratifying to know that our efforts have created a state-of-the-art learning environment that will draw increased numbers of students. This will benefit them, and in turn, our state's economy."
According to HCC President Anita Gliniecki: "The reaction from students and staff to this new facility is phenomenal. Full-time equivalent enrollment at the college has increased over 14 percent compared to last fall. Students thoroughly enjoy having the opportunity to take classes previously not available due to the lack of classroom space. Students come to classes early because now there are multiple study areas that they can use individually or to meet with classmates for group study."
The architect for the project was Perkins Eastman of Stamford, the contractor was Newfield Construction of Hartford, and the construction administrator was New Haven's Fusco Corp.