JTCC expands to meet increased student demand
By Marcy Horwitz CONTRIBUTING WRITER

College officials and others helped break ground on a new academic building at John Tyler Community College last week. It should be ready for occupancy in fall of 2009.

Around 300 people attended groundbreaking ceremonies at John Tyler Community College's (JTCC) Midlothian campus on Founder's Day last week to celebrate the beginning of construction on a new academic building.

The $21 million building is expected to open to students in the fall of 2009. If it were up to JTCC President Dr. Marshall W. Smith, the new building would have opened yesterday. Smith has pledged to "push hard" to meet the completion deadline.

"This building is absolutely critical for the continued growth of the campus," he said. With more than 3,000 students on the Midlothian campus this fall, the college has run out of room.

The new building will effectively double the college's academic capability, adding 60,000 square feet of space. Located behind the campus' existing academic building, it will include a larger library, student activities center, bookstore, science and computer labs, classrooms and faculty offices.

The new academic building will house a library, bookstore, student activities center and more.

After the library, bookstore and science labs move to the new building, the space freed up in the existing academic building will be renovated and converted into classroom and office space.

Along with providing extra room, the new building is also expected to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building criteria, says Leigh A. LaClair, director of facilities operations. LEED requirements encourage sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. To meet LEED criteria, the college is considering several environmentally-friendly initiatives including possibly installing a green roof that utilizes vegetation to more effectively heat and cool the building, using low-emitting paint, carpets and other materials to protect air quality, and promoting alternative means of transportation. The building is poised to become the first LEED-certified building in the 23-member Virginia Community College System (VCCS).

JTCC is the sixth largest school in the VCCS. The school currently enrolls more than 10,000 students - a 17 percent increase over last year's enrollment - who attend classes on campuses in Midlothian and Chester. JTCC also offers instruction in offsite classrooms located throughout the area. The school is celebrating its 40th anniversary during 2006- 07.