Midland College moving forward with Cogdell renovation plans
Although not everything will be visible, more than $500,000 in improvements are planned for Midland College’s Cogdell Learning Center this summer.
Bids are out now and officials expect to award a contract in mid-May with construction starting in June and being completed in two phases, Director Liz Zenteno said.
Staff would move back in August and classrooms would be available in late October, Zenteno said.
“Quite a bit” of money will be spent on electric and data re-cabling. Asbestos remediation is one of the first things to be done, she said.
“People won’t see that, but it will help us provide service the way we need to,” Zenteno said. “We’ll have new carpeting throughout the staff office area.”
Dennis Sever, vice president for information technology and facilities, said the building was originally constructed by businessman Bill Pace Cogdell in the 1950s or ’60s. “That’s a pretty old facility. It needs to be fixed,” he said.
The college has purchased property just west of the school for possible expansion “and to demonstrate to the community that there’s a long-term and substantial commitment to this part of the community,” Zenteno said.
When Midland College took possession of the building after Cogdell’s death, two buildings were joined.
“We’re going to try to make it a more academically friendly place,” Sever said.
Zenteno’s office will be converted into a multipurpose computer lab. Now a portion is used by GED and English as a second language students.
“The other plan is to remodel the lobby and create a more welcoming reception area. We’ll try to help traffic naturally flow to the entryways,” Zenteno said. Awnings will be placed at each entrance, plus planters and better lighting.
Programs will continue during construction, but may temporarily relocate to building science and technology on Loraine Street just east of the center. Some staff members will go to the property just acquired.
On the program end, Zenteno said Midland College is working to get a U.S. Department of Education Hispanic Serving Institutions Title V grant. Part of that grant would be used to develop the property west of Cogdell, which could be used for classrooms.
“Cogdell is here to be a bridge between the south and southeast community to the main campus. We help students transition to classes on the main campus,” Zenteno said.
Staff members at the facility help with financial aid, college planning and advising, and career decision-making and guidance. They also try to give students technical know-how to be successful in school, register online, do Internet research and complete an online assignment. It can also be done in Spanish.
This past year, Zenteno said more than 1,000 students came through Cogdell Center. About 600 of those were TRIO students who came through various college preparation programs and 500 from GED, ESL, continuing and developmental education.
The center also helps more than 200 people a year complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). Community Liaison Adriana Jaso offers assistance with this, Zenteno said.
