Panola College Approves Energy Technology Building Construction
The Board of Trustees at Panola College in Carthage, Texas, recently approved the construction of a new energy building on its campus, according to local news. The facility includes 32,000 square feet of interior space and 25,000 square feet of outdoor space, and it will feature amenities like a welding lab; and engines and compression lab; and classrooms and shops for HAC, electrical and motor control, hydraulics and mechanical, commercial wiring, and instrumentation.
According to the Panola Watchman, the project will cost a total of $14.9 million. About $12.3 million of that will go to construction, while the remaining $2.6 million will be spent on furnishings and specialized equipment, according to Corgan Architects project representative David Zatopek.
The main goal of the new facility is to expand the space available for many of the college’s most popular programs.
“We really need more space, and this new facility will allow us to triple our enrollment,” said Panola College President Dr. Greg Powell. Local news outlet KLTV reports that in the current building, between five and nine subjects are being taught at any one time. Classes are stacked on top of one another, and scheduling is tight, said Powell.
“Our programs have grown tremendously. With the onset of the petroleum program, we work with industry to see what their needs are, and that’s how it’s expanded into our other associate degree programs and then some smaller certificates,” said Natalie Oswalt, dean of arts, sciences, and technology. “We will be adding some things like drone technology. We want to be able to offer that to our students and to businesses.”
The Panola Watchman reports that construction began in the last week of January and is scheduled for completion by September 2024.
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Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at mjones@1105media.com.