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Bid approved for MCC interior renovations

Contributed Photo — A look at the future student hub to be apart of Marshalltown Community College’s renovated campus building.

The Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD) approved a $3.7 million bid for an interior renovation project at Wednesday night’s special board of directors meeting.

The total bid amount for the project from contractor Pro Commercial LLC came in higher than the district originally estimated. IVCCD Chancellor Kristie Fisher expressed disappointment over the cost, but stressed the importance of the positive impact the interior renovation project is intended to make.

“We wish the bid would have been a little lower, but the reality is it’s still an exciting project,” Fisher said. “We know overall we are still going to come in on budget if we look at projects across the entire district, so to me it’s all about excitement.”

OPN Architects have handled the architecture and bid recommendation process for the project, approved by the board to handle the projection of the bid last year.

Project architect for OPN Architects Joe Feldmann talked at the special meeting about the volatile bidding environment leading to the final bid amount being over the original estimate. He said labor costs for the project are tighter than usual, with material costs for construction being up about 40 percent from previous projects.

TR Photo by Trevor Babcock — IVCCD Chancellor Kristie Fisher speaks to the board of directors at a special meeting to approve the bid for an interior renovation project at Marshalltown Community College.

Despite the higher than expected cost, Feldmann said he didn’t want to forget about the goals of the project.

“There’s going to be some really dramatic impacts here,” Feldmann said. “I don’t want to lose sight of the fact that we are really enthusiastic about the project and the changes and impact we are going to have on the school.”

The district will now work with the project contractor to see if they could make small changes to the project to make some savings.

Fisher has said the project is the most complex undertaking for Marshalltown Community College to date.

The project consists of renovating multiple spaces throughout the MCC campus.

The lobby, yard and hall of the Iowa Valley Continuing Education building will be remodeled. Marshalltown Community College’s library and student success center will be re-done as a student hub, complete with remodeled lounges, new computer labs and the addition of an esports arena. The science lab and physics lab will also be completely remodeled. Modern updates will be made to all bathrooms at the campus building.

“We just have the best faculty, they’re amazing, but they’re teaching in these outdated rooms so they’re constantly figuring out ways to do their amazing work in spite of the room,” Fisher said. “They’re going to be able to do their amazing work and have the room actually add to it and make it a better experience.”

A target completion date for construction is set for Dec. 17 of this year.