Northwest College is gearing up for the first phase of the new student center construction, which will be to create a space for students to eat. 

In order to make way for the new building, the DeWitt Student Center will need to be torn down, and as such, the campus dining area will be demolished. 

While there was some talk last year about modular units for this purpose, the college is moving ahead with a plan to create a shell building and then build that out for a permanent space that can be used for soccer coach offices and team locker rooms after it’s no longer needed for dining. 

In April, the cost of the 3,600 square-foot facility was estimated to be $1.35 million, and by May, inflation and procurement issues had ballooned the cost to $1.45 million. In light of the increased cost, the college went back and redesigned the building to bring the estimate down — a process called value engineering — and landed with an estimated $1.41 million. 

“As with any project, as soon as you write something on paper, it changes,” NWC President Lisa Watson said at a meeting of the board of trustees in June. 

On Wednesday, the college met with the contractor for the project, Groathouse Construction out of Cody, and the State of Wyoming, which is covering half of the project cost. The state signed an agreement with Groathouse for a not-to-exceed cost of $1.48 million. 

The NWC Foundation will be providing $500,000 of the state’s required match, and the remainder will come from surplus funding and possibly student fees. 

Watson talked about the balance required when a project is value engineered. While bringing the construction costs down is one goal, making sure the project meets the long-term needs of the college is another. 

So, for example, the college planners and project contractors could have brought the costs down using baseboard electric heaters, but in a couple of years, the facility’s mechanical system would have to be replaced when the building is repurposed for long-term use by the soccer program. 

In keeping costs down, it hasn’t all been bad news for the college. 

Fred Bronnenberg, president and CEO of Groathouse, said early on, the procurement of the mechanical units was expected to take 26 to 28 weeks, but Groathouse was able to procure the units to avoid any delays on that part of the project. 

“That saved you guys a significant amount of money and time,” Bronnenberg told the trustees. 

He also remarked that the bidding market was favorable, resulting in more cost savings. 

“It’s going to be a great project. We just need to get rolling,” he said. 

While the new building will provide a dining hall for NWC students, the food will be prepared remotely. 

College officials have talked with Park County officials about the possibility of using kitchen facilities at the Park County Fairgrounds for that purpose, and an agreement is expected to be solidified next month. 

The estimated date of completion is Jan. 30. Watson said, should there be any delays, food service will be in the Johnson Fitness Center Trapper Gym until the temporary dining facilities are ready.

The new student center itself is currently estimated to cost $21.7 million, about half of which is coming from the state. The college must match those funds, and Watson and the college staff are continuing to look at a number of options, including private donations from a $3.5 million ongoing campaign by the NWC Foundation. College reserve funds, student fees, and financing may also be utilized to meet the state’s required match. 

The new building will be constructed on NWC property just outside city limits, north of the Yellowstone Building, meaning permitting is going through Park County Planning and Zoning. Since it’s a building the public will access and it has a special purpose, the college is required to obtain a special use permit (SUP). 

The Park County Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing on the SUP on July 20, at 1 p.m., in the Alternate Emergency Operations Center located in the basement of the Courthouse Addition, 10002 Sheridan Avenue, in Cody.