On March 28, the final classes will be held at the 61-year-old Oregon Institute of Technology building on the Harmony community campus. The old one-story structure will be replaced by a new three-story building that should be completed by fall 2017.

The Clackamas Community College district approved the $90 million bond measure in November 2014 that will be used to build four new buildings: one at the Harmony campus and three others at the main Oregon City campus. In addition to the building projects, the college will update and expand many classrooms and labs, as well as modify equipment to meet instructional standards.

There is no firm date scheduled for the demolition of the OIT building. The first thing after the classes are finished is the chore of ridding the building of the asbestos. The abatement process is a tedious one. In addition the college is salvaging the reusable material for use in other college renovations.

“I am most excited for the completion of the Phase II building and the new opportunities it will provide our students: Health Science students to complete their pre-requisites, certificates and degrees all in one location, the biology and chemistry light labs will offer new lab science course options for those students working to complete their transfer degree,” said Sunny Olsen, the Director of Community Education at Harmony campus.

Olsen said, “The move of the Criminal Justice and Corrections program will bring additional students and possibilities for greater collaboration among the first responder departments on the Harmony campus. Lastly, the building itself and the grounds will be beautiful and inviting with a multi-purpose space that is much needed in this community.”

Changes to structures are imminent as funding becomes available.

“The new building will allow us to expand the classes we offer here at Harmony,” Phil Ried, a student adviser at Harmony, said. “It will be great to have science labs and biology labs to offer our students.”

According to Bob Cochran, the dean of Campus Services, the college has contracted with inici group inc. to provide project and construction management services for the bond projects. The inici group is assisting the college with the management of the design elements of the projects.

During construction, Cochran said, “Inici group will be in charge of the day -to-day construction representing the CCC interests,” at Harmony community campus and at the main campus as well. They will try to ensure that the projects are completed on time and on budget.

The first building to be built on the Oregon City campus will house the manufacturing department and is currently called the Industrial Technical Center.

The next project for the Oregon City campus will be the expansion of the DeJardin building, which will nearly double in size and with it, the college’s science offerings.

When complete, the entire DeJardin building will be a science facility.

The third project will be replacing the community center with a new building. It will incorporate registration, financial aid and student advisers all in the same area. This will make it much easier for students to get everything done in one place.

Renovation projects will also be completed in what Cochran calls “deferred maintenance,” which includes redoing the athletic showers and locker room facilities, bringing them up to compliance and redoing the elevators in the old buildings. There will be some much needed roof repair done as well.

“Education has played an important role at the Harmony community campus for many, many years. The new building will continue that tradition. It will allow CCC to grow its Health Science program, enhance workforce development and increase general education offerings,” said Lori Hall, the college’s public information officer.

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