Edmonds Community College will begin an $8.8 million reconstruction on its oldest campus building this fall.
The 34-year-old Mountlake Terrace Hall will undergo a remodel that will lead to some changes for returning students, faculty and staff.
Among the changes are the relocation of the student bookstore and the Edpass office, which provides students with identification cards. Both have temporarily been moved to the neighboring Brier Hall and are occupying part of the college’s cafeteria for the upcoming year, college officials said.
All student service offices, including Running Start and outreach office, the math lab and the counseling center are being moved to new locations.
Students can also expect more online and late afternoon classes. There will also be earlier first class start times, beginning at 7:30 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. “Because of the renovation of Mountlake Terrace Hall there is lost classroom space and the schedule is being changed in order to compensate,” said EdCC public information officer Michelle Graves.
The reconstruction of Mountlake Terrace Hall will include more classrooms, an updated electrical system and a new ventilation and air-conditioning system.
Some feel these changes are long overdue.
“I don’t see how the building could continue in this condition,” developmental education instructor Barbara Haas said. “There is so much technology this building can’t accommodate.”
EdCC student Dan Pedersen compared the Mountlake Terrace building with the newly built Snoqualmie building. “We were having to use antique methods and this change is long overdue,” Pedersen said.
Developmental Education office assistant Kim Varney said the need for more and better classrooms outweighs other ways to spend funds, such as more student parking.
“We’re here to help the students. Everyone wants better parking, but still complain about not having enough classes,” Varney said.
EdCC student Wayne Bickel said the scheduling conflicts encountered because of the renovation are, “OK because it will be good for the students in the long run.”
Mary Richter has worked in the Mountlake Terrace building for more than 14 years as the administrative assistant to the Dean of developmental education. Richter said she thinks the move will be overwhelming, but that “the building needs to structure space to better suit the needs of students and faculty.”
The project was selected as a priority among several possible projects by the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges and is being paid for through state funds, Graves said.
EdCC also is currently in the design phase for the construction of a new bookstore between Brier and Snoqualmie halls. Bidding for the new store will begin in September of this year.
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