Construction Underway for Housatonic Community College Expansion
BRIDGEPORT, CT – Construction has started for the expansion and renovation to Lafayette Hall at Housatonic Community College (HCC).
The Bridgeport, CT, college moved to its current location in 1997. At that time, the college had approximately 2,700 students enrolled and immediately experienced a significant enrollment increase. Current enrollment is 5,369 students.
To accommodate HCC’s steady growth, the college opened its second building, Beacon Hall, at the southern perimeter of the campus in 2008. The additional 174,500 square feet added classrooms, offices, a large multi-use Events Center, Wellness Center, Students Activities Center and enlarged bookstore.
Continuing its pattern of growth, the current 46,000-square-foot addition will create a new Welcome Center, enabling students to move more easily through the enrollment and registration process. Renovated spaces will also enlarge the college library, academic support center, new science labs and additional offices for student services.
HCC President Paul Broadie says, “The new space will allow us to expand academic programs and provide new ones to meet today’s employment requirements. We are projecting adding programs specifically in STEAM (Science, Engineering, Arts, Math) courses.
The $37.5 million project is expected to create over 600 construction-related jobs.
The college will continue all normal procedures and activities throughout the construction process.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2017, in time for the college’s 50th anniversary.