New Ivy Tech facility will be 'green'

Friday, January 9, 2009

Doors to the new Center for Workforce and Economic Development are scheduled to open next year. Construction at the corner of Zinc Mill Road and Veteran's Memorial Drive seems to be on time.

The new Center for Workforce and Economic Development is taking shape at the intersection of Zinc Mill Road and Veteran's Memorial Drive. As of Thursday, several construction benchmarks have been achieved.

To date, the following construction benchmarks have been achieved:

* Parking lot to grade, curbing and stone base in place

* Structural steel package erected

* Exterior metal, insulation and vapor barriers are complete

* Interior metal studs and room layout completed

* Drywall has begun

* Temporary utilities are in place

* Block work and brick work have started

* Winterization of the building and roof are complete

Ivy Tech is taking the extra step to receive the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification provided by U.S. Green Building Council.

The college embraces the need to make the new facility blend into the natural environment and complement Greencastle's efforts to be a "green" community. It has worked with the builders, contractors and architects to guarantee certification is reached.

DePauw's Janet Prindle Institute of Ethics achieved LEED certification for new construction during the 2008 Design Awards.

Ivy Tech's "Changing Lives…Building Futures" campaign has raised more than $1.5 million of its $1.9 million goal. It is money to provide student scholarship, enhance technologies and faculty support for the new Greencastle campus.

"The outpouring of community leadership and support will ensure this campaign reaches its goal," said Jeff Pittman, chancellor. "We certainly could not have made such progress so quickly without the persistence and leadership of Rod Lasley, president of North Salem Bank and campaign chair, Mayor Sue Murray and honorary chair as well as the dozens of volunteers who have committed their time and resources to the students of our communities."

Ivy Tech Community College is the state's largest public post-secondary institution and the nation's largest singly-accredited statewide community college system, with more than 120,000 students enrolled annually.

It serves the state's engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training.

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