The Community College of Philadelphia broke ground on a $31 million expansion and redesign of its northeast Regional Center. The multifaceted project is expected to create the first nationallycertified, "green" college facility in Philadelphia.

Using cutting-edge, eco-friendly technology and construction methods, the College plans to build a new 58,000-square-foot, three-story building,which will be adjacent to the College's existing 60,000-square-foot Northeast Regional Center. Work on the NERC is expected to be completed in2010.

The NERC expansion and redesign is the first of two major construction projects the College will launch this fall. The second is a $56 millionredevelopment of the College's Main Campus. This project will include a new Pavilion Building and substantial renovation of portions of the College'sMint, Bonnell and West buildings, all on or near 17th and Spring Garden streets.

Work on the Main Campus construction project is scheduled to startin November and be completed in 2011.All of the new buildings and renovations are designed to enhance the educational experience for the College's 34,000 students.

Both NERC and Main Campus projects will include cutting-edge, green features and are expected to qualify for a silver rating under the LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council for new construction. They are expected to becomethe first LEED-certified, higher education facilities in the city.

The NERC addition will provide state-of-the-art classrooms and technology that will enhance learning opportunities for students. Theadditional space will nearly double the NERC potential enrollment capacity to 2,850 full-time students.

"Once completed, the project will enable the College to address enrollment demand and to enhance current program offerings in Accounting,Business, Culture Science and Technology, Education, Justice, Liberal Arts, Honors and Management," said President Stephen M. Curtis said. "In addition, several newprograms will be offered at the NERC, including Emergency Medical Technology, Computer Forensics, Health Services Management, Biotechnology:Bioprocessing, and business and industry training."

A key component of the NERC expansion and redesign is a geothermal, heating and cooling system made possible by a $1.6 million grant from theU.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. The grant also will help support a new Institute for Biotechnology and Advanced

Manufacturing, which will offer certificates in bioprocessing (fermentation) and process technology (process control/petrochemical) atboth the College's NERC and Main campuses that can lead to an Associate's degree in Applied Science and Engineering Technology. The Institute willalso offer skill upgrading for incumbent workers.

A recent report by The Milken Institute -- a publicly supported, nonpartisan, independent think tank -- documented that Philadelphia isamong the elite centers of the country for growth and potential in the Life Sciences.

The expanded NERC also will include a significant amount of seminar and technology-rich space that can be used to address the educational needs ofthe Northeast Philadelphia business community. It will link Northeast businesses to services offered by the College's Corporate Solutions whichis based on the Main Campus. It will also offer new educational opportunities such as a Small Business Management certificate program andReal Estate Appraisal workshops. There also will be new student amenities, including expanded dining services and an expanded bookstore.

The NERC addition will have a "green roof," and its geothermal heating and cooling system will utilize the difference between the underground andsurface temperatures to regulate building temperature. The savings on utilities means the geothermal system will pay for itself in about sixyears. The building also is designed to harvest the maximum amount of daylight possible, to reduce the need to use lights.

A storm water management system will collect rain water runoff from the green roof and from nearby residential homes for use in flushing systems inthe NERC, reducing water consumption and managing storm water runoff from the campus and neighboring residences.

At the College's Main Campus, the new Pavilion Building will include some of the same sustainable features, but will not have a geothermalsystem. Instead, the building will rely on a high-performance exterior skin to reduce energy use. It also will be fitted with recycled carpeting andlinoleum, have a green roof and use daylight harvesting to maximize natural light in learning areas.

The decision to build to LEED standards is expected to place the College at the top of the class among the city's higher educationinstitutions in addressing environmental issues that contribute to global warming.

Thomas R. Hawk, vice president for Planning and Finance and Treasurer, said the College has been committed to sustainable design and buildingoperating concepts for more than a decade. "We wanted to pursue this approach both for the positive financial benefits and for the message thatusing sustainable design strategies sends to our students and the larger communities we serve," Hawk said.

Combined the two projects will cost a total of approximately $87 million-about half of which will come from the state. The remainder willcome from College financing and proceeds from the Community College of Philadelphia Foundation's first capital fundraising campaign.

U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), who helped the College obtain a $1.6 million federal grant for the project, was on hand to assist Stephen M.Curtis, the president of Community College of Philadelphia, in celebrating the momentous event attended by a host of other dignitaries.

"I like what Isee at Community College of Philadelphia," Senator Specter said. "I very much appreciate the tremendous work you are doing here."

U.S. Representatives Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Patrick Murphy (D-PA) who were unable to attend, also assisted the College obtain a federal grant for theNortheast Regional Center project. Another speaker, Democratic state Sen.. Michael J. Stack (D-Philadelphia) made the surprise announcement that he hasobtained an additional $1 million in state money for the expansion project.

Community College of Philadelphia enrolls approximately 34,000 students annually at its Main Campus, three Regional Centers and various locationsthroughout Philadelphia.

10/10/2008