Overview
HS, SS, BI Replacement
The six buildings that comprise the Humanities and Social Science complex were built in the late sixties and have exceeded their life cycles. They are no longer able to support the instructional needs of the institution. A replacement is needed.
This replacement project is also responding to needs expressed in the college Instructional Plan. The plan identifies an overwhelming need for modern classrooms and faculty offices.
The new classroom building will consolidate class and office locations, enhancing the student experience. The facility will match the quality of recently completed campus projects with an emphasis on sustainable features. The new facility will serve the business, english, fine arts, humanities, and social science divisions with adequate classrooms and labs, offices and support spaces that will allow the college to better meet the needs of its students.
The new facility will be built on the site of the existing Science and Technology complex, which was replaced by the new Marv Nelson Science Learning Center. The ST complex and Occupational Education, Bldg. B will be demolished at the beginning of the HS replacement construction phase. This location is ideally situated in the heart of campus, close to the Science Center, Technology Center and Science, Math and Technology complexes to the south and the Rutkowski Learning Center and the Performing Arts buildings to the north. Also, using the ST site reflects our desire to uphold the Master Plan principle to preserve the natural environment of the campus through continuity of architecture and control and management of green and open spaces.
A larger building will enhance the Green River experience, creating gathering spaces for interaction between different building user groups, a key component of the Facilities Master Plan. The new facility will be approximately 80,000 gross square feet, more than 13,000 square feet larger than the existing HS complex. The increase in square footage will allow for the replacement of undersized classrooms and labs.
Pre-design occurred from 2005-2007 and the state has funded design and permitting for the 2007-2009 biennium. With continued state funding approval, construction will occur from 2009-2011.
Progress Reports
January 31, 2011 by Sam Ball
The construction phase of the Salish Hall project is nearly complete. Start-up and testing of mechanical systems is underway as is landscaping. Completion of the building is on schedule to begin the installation of furniture and equipment in March and lasting into June.
Education Support Services, IT, and Telecommunications staff are working with faculty and staff to plan for their move from the HS/SS/BI complex into Salish Hall in late spring, early summer. A moving schedule will be published in the next few weeks.
October 4, 2010 by Sam Ball
Exterior finishes are nearly 80% complete and site grading for walks and landscaping has begun. Weather permitting, Nordby Way, between PA and SH will be reopened to the public in early November. Interior drywall and painting is nearly 75% complete.
Installation of furniture and equipment will begin late winter and continue into June. The project is still on schedule to open fall quarter 2011.
June 21, 2010 by Sam Ball
With exterior masonry over fifty percent complete and interior steel framing complete, Salish Hall continues to be on schedule.
The Salish Hall Art Committee made up of faculty, staff, and students have selected Susan Point, a costal Salish artist living in Vancouver BC to create a piece as part of the Washington State Art Commission Art in Public Places program.
Improvements on 124th Ave from SE 320th to SE 312th will begin later this month. The street will be widened to accommodate a center left turn lane and a southbound right turn lane. Existing overhead utilities will be re-located underground and a sidewalk added to the west side of the street. The schedule calls for improvements to be completed prior to fall quarter 2010.
Completion of Salish Hall is slated for mid-winter 2011 followed by the installation of furniture and equipment during the spring and summer of 2011. Business, English, fine arts, humanities, and social science, faculty and staff currently housed in the HS/SS/BI complex will move into Salish Hall in time for fall quarter 2011.
February 22, 2010 by Sam Ball
Salish Hall is beginning to take shape. Structural steel and concrete floors are nearly completed on the three story fine arts and general classroom wing. Erection of structural steel for the two story faculty office wing next to the Lindbloom Center has begun.
The project continues to be on schedule with construction completion slated for mid-winter 2011 followed by the installation of furniture and equipment during the spring and summer of 2011.
Business, English, fine arts, humanities and social science faculty and staff currently housed in the HS/SS/BI complex will move into Salish Hall in time for fall quarter 2011.
July 23, 2009 by Sam Ball
Salish Hall will replace the HS/SS/BI complex and will house Social Science, Humanities, Fine Arts, English, and Business faculty and staff.
Work to demolish the ST complex and prepare the building site began over spring break and was completed in June.
Eighteen general contractor bids were opened on May 28, 2009 and the low bidder was John Korsmo Construction, a 60 year old Tacoma based general contractor. The firm has a diverse resume including educational facilities, hotels, worship centers, government office buildings, military projects, LEED Certified projects, Industrial facilities and private development projects.
Site work has begun with completion scheduled in winter, 2011. Allowing time to install IT/Telecom equipment and furniture, and move in staff, it is anticipated that the new facility will be open for classes Fall Quarter, 2011.
The GRCC/ John Korsmo Construction partnership is committed to student, staff, and public safety. Every effort will be made to minimize the impacts on roads, walkways, or adjacent area and to provide the safest travel routes possible. The college facilities staff and the contractor thank the students and staff for their continued consideration and support during two year construction process.
On a related note, construction of a new ADA ramp on the west side of OEB will be completed in time for fall quarter. This ramp will allow better access for students traveling from the north side of campus to the south and vice versa.
April 23, 2009 by Sam Ball
The Green River Community College Board of Trustees voted to name the HS/SS/BI Replacement project Salish Hall. Salish Hall will house Social Science, Humanities, Fine Arts, English, and Business faculty and staff.
In presenting the building name to the Board, Marianne Jacobs, Social Science division chair, said all five divisions that will occupy the 80,000 sf building teach diversity and integrate Native American culture into the curriculum. She said the word Salish refers to the Salishan language used by tribes in this region.
Work to prepare the building site began over spring break and demolition of the old ST Complex will occur in April and May.
Construction will commence in June with completion in winter, 2011. Allowing time to install IT/Telecom equipment and furniture, and move in staff, it is anticipated that the new facility will be open for classes Fall Quarter, 2011.
September 30, 2009 by Sam Ball
The design for the replacement of the HS/SS/ BI complex is nearly complete. Final inputs form faculty and staff will occur in October as well as permit applications to the City of Auburn. The demolition of the ST complex to accommodate the new building will occur in spring, 2009 followed by 20 months of construction. Allowing time to install IT/Telecom equipment and furniture, and move in staff, it is anticipated that the new facility will be open for classes Fall Quarter, 2011.
July 13, 2006 by Sam Ball
Rigorous meetings with Business, English, Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Science faculty, college staff, campus architects S.M.Stemper Architects, and Schreiber, Starling & Lane concluded in a pre-design document that was submitted to the SBCTC on June 30. This document will convey to the legislature and governor our need for a new facility. Our hope is to receive funding for the design and construction of the project. Should this happen, the design and permitting will take place during the 2007-2009 biennium followed by construction in 2009-2011.
February 24, 2006 by Sam Ball
A Pre-design document is being developed for a facility that will replace the HS, SS, and BI buildings. The document will communicate the need for the new facility to the legislature and governor, and our hope is to receive funding for the design and construction of the project.
Faculty from the Business, English, Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Science divisions present program needs at the design meetings and then report the progress being made back to their divisions. Faculty, administrative staff, and facilities personnel and campus architects S.M. Stemper Architects and Schreiber, Starling & Lane will develop the project and budget for the new facility. If we are funded, the design and permitting will take place during the 2007-2009 biennium followed by construction in 2009-2011.