Leilani Alim
Published: December 6, 2006
When people purchase an older home, they often find much that needs to be repaired. Plumbing may not work as expected, paint may be faded, landscaping may need improvement.
The PJC administration faces many of the same challenges as they continually struggle to keep the aging Pensacola campus in good repair.
Especially since Hurricane Ivan, PJC has invested a lot of time, money and hard work into renovations that range from minor projects to the complete renovation of buildings.
“No buildings are perfect, and there is always room for improvements. Hopefully we are on top of everything needed right now,” said Michael Hayse, in facilities planning and construction.
Many minor projects have taken place recently on campus, according to Vice President of Planning and Administration Isaac Brigham. After the hurricanes, new roofs were put onto several of the buildings, and they are “constantly improving the heating and air conditioning systems,” Brigham said.
A few years ago, the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for the Visual Arts was renovated, which brought forth a new perspective for art presentations. The building is architecturally sound and modernized to best highlight the changing exhibits.
Recently, PJC completed renovation of the east end of the Baroco Center for Science and Technology, which was seriously damaged during Hurricane Ivan. The facility now accommodates the PJC foundation, instead of <a href=”https://www.wsre.org”>WSRE</a>, Hayse said.
The major renovation currently taking place is the Lou Ross Center. In addition to a new training room and an enhanced clinic, the center will feature “a state of the art gym floor to replace the wood floor that caused many sports injuries,” Hayse said.
The renovation of the Ross complex will improve sports performance as well as the function of the staff and coaches, Hayse said.
All of the above renovations are just the beginning. Next year begins a new renovation schedule, the biggest one being the Learning Resource Center. With a $7 million dollar budget for the project, PJC is currently in the process of selecting an architect, and construction should begin next year, Hayse said.