Work has been progressing on the new downtown Aurora Campus since the groundbreaking ceremony in January 2009. Current projects center on waterproofing the building before winter, with work on the brick façade continuing, and windows and doors being installed. Ductwork for the heating system is also nearing completion.

Throughout the winter, interior work will include framing and drywall, along with ongoing electrical, plumbing and HVAC work.

Work on the foundation of Waubonsee’s new Plano Campus started on June 1, 2009. Steel began going up on July 13 and will be completed in early November. Workers are currently busy trying to enclose and weatherproof the building so that interior work can continue throughout the winter. Major steps in that process include finishing the roof, installing windows and getting the heating system up and running.

The paths leading to the new building are also taking shape, as the first layer of pavement for Waubonsee Drive was poured in late October. The road is not yet open, but the traffic lights at Waubonsee Drive and Route 34 are scheduled to be operational in late November.

Plano -- Today Waubonsee Community College celebrated the ceremonial groundbreaking for its 33,000-square-foot Plano Campus that will greatly expand educational opportunities for local residents. The event featured speeches by Waubonsee officials and Plano Mayor William Roberts.

The college's new Plano Campus will be located at Route 34 and Waubonsee Drive, just west of Eldamain Road, on a nine-acre site donated by Lakewood Homes. It will be comprehensive, allowing students to earn their complete associate degrees at this one facility, and is expected to open for classes in spring 2011.

"We believe the development and construction of our new Plano Campus is occurring at the perfect time," said Waubonsee President Dr. Christine Sobek. "The new campus represents a very tangible symbol of Waubonsee's mission — from our founding in 1966 to the present — to provide quality, accessible education. Accomplishing this mission is vital to all of you. Easy access to our classes, labs and services is essential to our students. They need their college to be within walking distance or a short ride from their homes and workplaces."

The Plano Campus is Waubonsee's first to be located in a residential neighborhood. The campus will offer general education courses and transfer degree programs, as well as occupational programs in areas such as business, computers and health care. Those interested in careers in civil service or as first responders can study criminal justice, fire science or in the emergency medical technician (EMT) program.

Other Plano Campus offerings will include developmental education, adult education, GED classes, English as a Second Language classes, community education programming, and workforce and professional development. These courses and programs will take place in the building's 15 classrooms, which include nine general classrooms, two science labs for biology and earth science, two computer labs, an interactive television classroom, and a certified nurse assistant (CNA) lab.

To support the college's curricula and students, several services will be available on-site, including admissions, counseling, financial aid and registration. The campus will also house a resource center providing tutoring, an open computing lab and access to library services.

"Students and community members will find the services they need to chart their paths to success," said Waubonsee's Executive Vice President of Educational Affairs/Chief Learning Officer Dr. Deborah Lovingood. "Waubonsee is already positively impacting the lives of thousands of local residents through education. This Plano Campus will enable the college to help even more in the community turn their dreams into realities."

The building, which is projected to cost $13 million, was designed by Holabird and Root. JJR is the project's landscape architect, and Turner Construction is providing construction management.

The Plano Campus development is part of Waubonsee's 2020 College Master Plan, which would not have been possible without successful passage of college referenda in 2002 and 2003. This plan provides the roadmap for Waubonsee to meet the growing demand for education locally. In addition to this campus, other projects have included the construction of four new buildings at the Sugar Grove Campus and the construction of a new campus in downtown Aurora that broke ground in January. Voters in the district overwhelmingly expressed their support of these projects.

For more information about Waubonsee's Plano Campus, visit www.waubonsee.edu/plano.

Sugar Grove - Waubonsee Community College celebrated the official grand opening of its new Student Center on Friday, Feb. 27, at the college's Sugar Grove Campus. More than 400 students, staff members and community residents attended the event, which featured tours, entertainment, giveaways and refreshments.

The 58,000-square-foot Student Center is designed to be both the literal and figurative heart of the college's main campus. This "one-stop shop" centralizes all of the college's most vital student services in one building. Departments housed in the new building include Admissions, Registration and Records, Financial Aid, Counseling, Bursar Office, Center for Learning Assessment, Access Center for Students with Disabilities, Student Support Services, Career Services and Student Activities.

"For more than four decades, Waubonsee has helped countless students find success," said Waubonsee President Dr. Christine Sobek. "While much of this success stems from what is learned in the classroom under the direction of our dynamic and engaging faculty, dedicated and caring staff members in a variety of departments also help to ensure that students reach their full potential. Service has long been a core value for the college, and this new Student Center consolidates our student services under one roof, creating new synergies and strengthening these departments' positive impact on all students."

In addition to these services, the building also provides places for students to connect with each other and faculty outside of class. The college's new Café and Coffee Bar is located here, along with a dining room that offers plenty of seating options and scenic views of the campus. There are also several computer workstations and free wireless Internet access for those students with their own laptops.

"I am most excited to see that students now have one place to come together and form lifelong connections, with each other and the college," said Faith Marston, Dean for Enrollment Management and Student Life. "Having a strong foundation of support, from staff, faculty and their peers, is an important element in student success."

Such services and community spaces have become increasingly important in recent years as Waubonsee has seen its traditional-age full-time student population grow. During the 2007-08 academic year, 30 percent of the college's students were enrolled full time. And while the average age of a Waubonsee credit student is 26, nearly half of all credit students are less than 22 years old.

Full-time students spend more time on campus and so need a place to study, relax between classes or grab a bite to eat. Recent high school graduates are seeking a more traditional college student experience, and the new Student Center helps Waubonsee deliver that by providing more space for student activities and events. The building is also helping the college achieve its mission of student success by providing ample space for the many vital support services.

Over the past few years, Waubonsee has been working to increase access to education for the growing community through the construction of new state-of-the-art facilities, as called for in the 2020 College Master Plan. The Student Center is the fourth new building to open on the Sugar Grove Campus as part of the plan. Preceding it were Campus Operations, the Science Building, and the Academic and Professional Center. The plan also calls for a new downtown Aurora Campus, which recently broke ground, and development and construction of a Plano Campus, which will break ground later this spring.

Designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Perkins + Will, the Student Center was begun in February 2007 and cost approximately $17 million. JJR served as the project's landscape architect while Turner Construction served as the construction management company.

Aurora --Waubonsee Community College celebrated the ceremonial groundbreaking of its new 132,000-square-foot downtown Aurora Campus that will greatly expand educational opportunities for local residents. The event featured speeches by Waubonsee officials and Aurora Mayor Thomas Weisner.

The new campus, which represents a $50 million investment in the city's downtown, will be located at 18 S. River Street, on a site bounded by Galena Boulevard to the north, River Street to the west, Downer Place to the south and the Fox River to the east.

"Waubonsee's mission, from our founding in 1966 to the present, is to provide quality, accessible education," said Waubonsee President Dr. Christine Sobek. "Accomplishing this mission is especially vital to the City of Aurora and its residents. The need to continue to be located in the heart of this city, in this key downtown neighborhood, is to ensure that the college is accessible to all. Easy access to our classrooms, labs, and services is essential for our students."

In addition to being conveniently located, the campus will also be comprehensive, allowing students to earn their complete associate degrees at this one facility. Scheduled to open for classes in fall 2011, the building will house 52 classrooms, including two science labs, 11 computer classrooms and other specialized instructional spaces.

These state-of-the-art physical facilities will give community members access to transfer degree programs, occupational programs, developmental education, adult education, GED classes, English as a Second Language classes, community education programming, and workforce and professional development.

"This results in our students being able to seamlessly transition from adult education and GED classes into a program where they can earn a degree," said Dr. Deborah Lovingood, Executive Vice President of Educational Affairs/Chief Learning Officer. "Students can also gain the training and skills they need to find a job or move up in their current career. This campus will help students from all walks of life."

Other highlights of the campus include one-stop student services, a library, bookstore, café, child care center with playground, and the construction of an upper River Walk.

Cordogan, Clark & Associates designed the building, JJR is the project's landscape architect, and Turner Construction is providing construction management.

Waubonsee has offered classes at various sites in Aurora since the college's founding more than 40 years ago. In 1986 the current 80,000-square-foot downtown Aurora campus opened on Stolp Island. The new Aurora campus will replace this current campus, allowing the college to offer more classes and academic programs, form more community partnerships, and provide additional student services.

The Aurora Campus development is part of Waubonsee's 2020 College Master Plan, which outlines the construction projects necessary for Waubonsee to continue to meet the local community's growing demand for education.

"The new Aurora Campus is a reality because of community support," said Richard "Shorty" Dickson, chair of the college's board of trustees. "I want to thank all of the college district residents who overwhelmingly voted to approve referenda in 2002 and 2003. Your affirmation of the 2020 College Master Plan goals enabled us to develop a vision for this new campus."

Other 2020 projects have included construction of four new buildings at the Sugar Grove Campus and the construction of a new campus in Plano that will also break ground this spring.

The Aurora campus groundbreaking ceremony signals the start of the project's construction, which should begin in the next month.

Aurora -- The Aurora City Council approved the final plat and plan for Waubonsee Community College’s new downtown Aurora Campus at its meeting Tuesday night. Aldermen also passed an ordinance vacating a portion of the dedicated public right-of-way for Hoyt Place and Mill Alley. Both measures represent significant progress on the $50 million campus development.

Construction on the site, bounded by Galena Boulevard to the north, River Street to the west, Downer Place to the south and the Fox River to the east, is slated to begin in spring 2009. With one-stop student services and 52 classrooms, this new 132,000-square-foot state-of-the-art comprehensive campus will allow students to earn an associate degree entirely in downtown Aurora. In addition, community members will have increased access to noncredit offerings, including workforce and professional development training, community education programming, Adult Basic Education (ABE), General Educational Development (GED), and English as a Second Language (ESL).

Waubonsee has been serving the educational needs of Aurorans, in Aurora, since the college’s inception in 1966. The college currently has an 80,000-square-foot campus on Stolp Island that has educated thousands of students over the past two decades. The new campus will not only fit with the historic context of the neighborhood -- Waubonsee anticipates the campus will serve as the hub of a revitalized district.

The new Aurora Campus project is part of Waubonsee’s 2020 College Master Plan, a blueprint for the future that outlines the facilities necessary to meet the needs of students, both now and into the future. Implementation of the 2020 College Master Plan would not have been possible without successful passage of college referenda in 2002 and 2003. Voters in the college district overwhelmingly expressed their support of these projects.

More information about Waubonsee’s new downtown Aurora Campus can be found at www.waubonsee.edu/aurora.

Plano -- The Plano City Council approved the landscaping plan for Waubonsee Community College’s new Plano Campus at its meeting Monday night. The approval of the landscaping for the nine-acre site, located on Route 34, west of Eldamain Road, is an important step toward the planned spring 2009 groundbreaking.

Waubonsee’s Plano Campus, which is set to open for classes in spring 2011, brings a comprehensive college campus to the area for the first time. Students can earn a complete associate degree at the campus in a wide variety of career and transfer degree programs. Also, one-stop student services such as admissions, financial aid, counseling and registration will be offered at the campus. The 33,000-square-foot building will sit on the edge of Lake Plano and will be located at the corner of Route 34 and Waubonsee Drive.

The Plano Campus project is part of Waubonsee’s 2020 College Master Plan, a blueprint for the future that outlines the facilities necessary to meet the needs of students, both now and into the future. Implementation of the 2020 College Master Plan would not have been possible without successful passage of college referenda in 2002 and 2003. Voters in the college district overwhelmingly expressed their support of these projects.

More information about Waubonsee’s Plano Campus can be found at www.waubonsee.edu/plano.

Aurora -- During the first week of October, environmental remediation will begin for Waubonsee Community College’s new $50-million campus in downtown Aurora. Construction on the site, bounded by Galena Boulevard to the north, River Street to the west, Downer Place to the south and the Fox River to the east, is slated to begin in spring 2009. This new state-of-the-art comprehensive campus will allow students to earn an associate degree entirely in downtown Aurora.

Environmental remediation is a common practice for urban redevelopment projects, and Waubonsee is proactively pursuing this remediation, in partnership with the City of Aurora, to ensure the health and safety of future students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The site of the new Aurora Campus has, at various times in its history, been home to a foundry, manufacturing facility, gas station and various retail establishments.

The voluntary environmental remediation is taking place as part of the Illinois Site Remediation Program, which is overseen by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Nationally recognized engineering experts, Terracon Consultants, will monitor the project to help reach a higher level of site cleanliness and meet the strictest level of environmental standards.

The environmental remediation will focus on three areas of the site where analysis of soil and groundwater samples indicated that various metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exist. PAHs are common components of asphalts and petroleum products. Environmental site assessments were conducted between 2003 and 2008 and included 52 soil borings, which narrowed the remediation to the three areas of the overall 2.5-acre site. The remediation will be limited to the area most recently used as a City of Aurora parking lot and will be enclosed with a chain link fence.

Heavy machinery will remove the impacted soils at the three affected areas of the site. Excavations will extend from three to 16 feet below ground. Impacted soils will be trucked from the site to an Illinois EPA licensed facility for disposal.

After completion of the environmental remediation, which is expected to last four to eight weeks, samples will be taken from the walls and floors of the excavated areas to verify that the cleanup levels have been achieved. The college will then seek validation from the Illinois EPA in the form of a No Further Remediation letter, which acknowledges that the site does not present a significant risk to human health or the environment and that no further remediation is necessary.

Plano -- The Plano City Council approved the site plan for Waubonsee Community College’s new Plano Campus at its meeting Monday night. The approval of the nine-acre site, located on Route 34, west of Eldamain Road, is an important step toward the planned spring 2009 groundbreaking.

Waubonsee’s Plano Campus, which is set to open for classes in spring 2011, brings a comprehensive college campus to the area for the first time. Students can earn a complete associate degree at the campus in a wide variety of career and transfer degree programs. Also, one-stop student services such as admissions, financial aid, counseling and registration will be offered at the campus. The 33,000-square-foot building will sit on the edge of Lake Plano and will be located at the corner of Route 34 and Waubonsee Drive.

The Plano Campus project is part of Waubonsee’s 2020 College Master Plan, a blueprint for the future that outlines the facilities necessary to meet the needs of students, both now and into the future. Implementation of the 2020 College Master Plan would not have been possible without successful passage of college referenda in 2002 and 2003. Voters in the college district overwhelmingly expressed their support of these projects.

More information about Waubonsee’s Plano Campus can be found at www.waubonsee.edu/plano.