Lincoln Hall renovation part of $5.2M in projects OTC board will consider Monday
A list of projects to renovate or add space on the main campus of Ozarks Technical Community College will go to the board Monday.
The OTC Board of Trustees is expected to vote on more than $5.2 million in projects involving two existing buildings and fees related to plans for a new OTC Center for Workforce and Student Success.
The proposed work includes a two-pronged renovation to the interior of the historic Lincoln Hall — the exterior will not be altered — and an overhaul of existing greenhouse space in the Industry and Transportation Technology Center, or ITTC, building.
Lincoln Hall is a historically significant structure in Springfield. Long part of the OTC campus, it opened in 1930 as a school for African American students during segregation.
At the Monday meeting, the board will vote on two projects related to Lincoln.
The first project is $1.54 million to renovate parts of the building to expand health sciences programs. Part of that amount includes awarding a $710,565 contract to Nesbitt Construction, the lowest of two bidders.
The scope of that work includes renovating the surgery tech lab, adding a nursing lab, and upgrading existing labs and classrooms.
If approved, $1.5 million of the cost will be paid for with a Health Resources and Service Administration grant and the rest will be covered by leftover bond funds.
More:Ozarks Technical Community College has big plans for 2023. Here are 7 changes in the works
The second project is nearly $590,000 to renovate common area space inside Lincoln Hall. This includes replacing floors, painting walls, upgrading lighting and renovating the entrance and corridor adjacent to Lincoln 211, a key gathering space in the building.
A significant amount of that work is expected to be done by Nesbitt Construction. The project will be paid for out of leftover bond funds.
Separately, the board voted in late 2022 to upgrade the building's security system, surveillance and emergency alert system.
The opening of the Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing last year freed up space in other parts of the campus and paved the way for the Lincoln Hall projects and the proposed renovation of the existing greenhouse space in the ITTC building.
The board will vote Monday on that nearly $1.8 million project, which includes a $1.5 million contract with Carson Mitchell, Inc. to demolish the existing greenhouse, install new exterior walls, construct a plumbing lab on the first floor and offices on the second floor.
This work will make it possible for OTC to launch a plumbing program later this year or in early 2024.
If approved, nearly $1.25 million of the cost will be paid for by a Workforce Training Grant. The rest will be paid for with leftover bond funds.
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Last year, the board approved millions to renovate other parts of the ITTC building, including more space for the in-demand welding programs.
In September, the board signed off on completing a schematic design for the new OTC Center for Workforce and Student Success, which will be built on the Springfield campus.
The college, which is seeking state funds for the project, will ask the board Monday to approve $1.34 million in fees for design development and construction documents for the project, which could break ground as early as the fall.
If state funding is allocated, the project will be paid for by the state and matching funds from OTC.
The OTC board meeting is at 3 p.m. Monday in the Information Commons board room. The meeting is open to the public.
Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: OTC board votes Monday on $5.2M+ in projects on Springfield campus
