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NEW FINE ARTS CENTER BREAKS GROUND AT OCEAN COUNTY COLLEGE
 | | Officials were on hand recently for the ceremonial groundbreaking of Ocean County College's forthcoming new Fine Arts Center. |
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OCEAN COUNTY - Ocean County College recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for phase one of construction and renovation on its new Fine Arts Center.
The ceremony took place outside on the construction site, adjacent to the existing Fine Arts building located on the main campus, College Drive.
"With today's groundbreaking for our new Fine Arts Center, Ocean County College has cemented our role as a leader in Ocean County in the fine and performing arts," said Dr. Jon H. Larson, president of Ocean County College. "This wonderful renovation and expansion will ensure that the students of OCC along with members of the community will continue to have the opportunity to both develop their talents and enjoy quality performing and fine arts exhibits."
According to Dr. Richard M. Parrish, Ocean County College vice president of planning and administration, the 2003 OCC Facilities Master Plan identified the need to renew and enhance the college's Fine Arts Center, which opened in January 1971.
The planning process identified the need for a new academic wing, an enhanced theater wing and a renovated academic wing to house the departments of Continuing and Professional Education and the Academy for Lifelong Learning. Some $13 million in funding was sought from the state and county. All told, the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders contributed 50 percent of the project cost.
The first stage is the construction of the new academic wing, which is scheduled for completion by July 15, 2008.
This 15,000-square-foot addition will house two computer laboratories, one classroom, four instructional studios, faculty offices, lobbies and support space. The instructional studios will be used for two dimensional design and drawing, painting, three-dimensional design and ceramics. This new academic wing will be connected to the existing Fine Arts Center through a stairwell and a new elevator.
The second stage focuses on renovating the east wing of the center, including the music wing, a classroom, offices, the theater lobbies and rest rooms. Renovations of the east wing are scheduled between January and August 2008.
Although the inside of the theater will not undergo renovations until a second phase II begins in 2010, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) improvements will be implemented this academic year, meaning the theater will be unavailable from January to September 2008.
The third stage will unfold when the existing academic wing is completely renovated to accommodate the relocation of the college's Continuing and Professional Education Department and the Academy for Lifelong Learning, formerly located at 150 Brick Boulevard, Brick.
The renovated west wing will house five classrooms, one computer laboratory and one nursing laboratory. The move into the west wing is scheduled for April 2009.
Those in attendance at the groundbreaking included students, faculty, staff and members of the OCC Board of Trustees and OCC Foundation, as well as local and county dignitaries.
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