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.

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.

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.