Work continues on observatory, construction of library limits access to campus

Work continues to advance on the Jack C. Davis Observatory and construction has also begun on the Western Nevada Community College's new library and student center, limiting access and parking.

To accommodate the construction of the student center, the college's north parking lot is fenced off and a temporary access road and parking lot are being created on the northwest corner of the campus, temporary lot and road are set to be complete July 15.

Progress continues to be made on the observatory in hopes of meeting the October deadline when President Carol Lucey is scheduled to teach an astronomy class there.

Apprentice iron workers from Local 118 volunteered their time Monday to secure the reinforcement bars of the foundation.

"We just wanted to help out by donating labor to help keep the price down," said Danny Costella, business agent for the iron workers. "Our guys make good wages and this is their way to give back to the community. Plus, it's a good way for the apprentices to get some hands-on experience."

The 35,000-square-foot library and student center should be completed in

late spring of 2003. The college's first free-standing library building

will have four study rooms, a video presentation room and a hands-on computer teaching room with work stations for students. One floor of the building will be dedicated to student activities.

The new library will seat about 160 students, while only about 70 can sit in the existing one.

The new building was approved in the 1999 Legislature and will cost around $6.7 million to build.

The architect, Hershenow and Klippenstein, has a rough draft of the plans that will include an 8,023 square-foot student center, a common area of 3,650 feet and a 23,019-square-foot library.

IF YOU GO

Directions to the temporary parking lot beginning July 15:

Access to the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Technology, the Child Development Center, WNCC Bookstore and Family to Family Connection will be via Combs Canyon Road. From West College Parkway, turn right on Ormsby Boulevard then left on Combs Canyon Road. Turn left on the new unpaved access road just to the west of the Reynolds Center. There will be an unpaved parking lot as well as access to the existing handicap parking next to the Child Development Center.