The Liberal Arts (LA) building has been closed for renovations since winter break of 2022. The project was originally scheduled to take 9 months to complete with classes resuming in the LA building for the fall 2023 semester. However, when students and staff came back to campus on September 5 for the start of the semester, the LA building was still closed.
When asked the reason for the delay, Dr. Robert Kleinschmidt, Dean of Liberal Arts Division, said, “My understanding is we ordered some equipment, and not all of the equipment was delivered. By the time that we discovered we were missing something, we ordered it, and it got backordered.”
The primary reason for the renovation was an outdated HVAC system which caused issues with the heating.
Dr. Kleinschmidt said, “In the office that I had in the Liberal Arts building I had two radiators, and one of them worked, so I was fortunate.” He added that the Assistant Director of Facilities and Maintenance, Josh Johnson, said the parts needed for repair weren’t available anymore due to the age of the HVAC system.
Before the renovations started, Dr. Kleinschmidt said Johnson indicated to him that, “Even if we could find the parts, and we could get someone with the expertise to repair it, we would still just be putting a patch on a broken system, at best.”
After the project was approved and the HVAC upgrade started, Johnson said, “We took the opportunity that we had while the building was offline to update as much as possible so that includes paint, also lighting…”
Johnson added, “All the offices have been upgraded so new carpeting, new furniture. And the classrooms have all new technology, new laser projectors, new screens, new computers, new classroom furniture, new flooring.”
In a VOICE article written by Jessica Romero Silver, Sadie Pattik, and Isabelle Nicolas on Feb. 22, 2023, asbestos was found in 2020 during renovations of the Student Center.
When asked if any hazardous material was found in the LA building, Johnson said, “Anything that could contain asbestos or lead was tested, and everything came back negative.”
When asked about the project delay, Johnson said, “We were doing great on the timeline, everything was installed, but we could not actually power [the HVAC] up without that piece of equipment.”
Johnson explained that the missing piece of equipment, which didn’t arrive until the second week of September, was the main control panel of the system.
With all needed equipment on site, Johnson said, “We expect to open up the building mid-October to get faculty and staff back in their offices.”
Even though the building will reopen in October, classes won’t resume in the LA building until the Spring semester. Johnson said, “It doesn’t make sense to switch the classes [classrooms] in the middle of the semester.”
During the renovations, LA classes have temporarily transitioned to the University Center (UC) building.
Leonard Winogora, a Philosophy professor at MCCC and President of the Adjunct Faculty Union said, “The UC building is a marvelous building to work in…I think it’s a relatively smooth transition for the moment.”
Henrik Reyes, an Engineering Science student in his first semester of MCCC, said, “I enjoy being in the University Center…and I like sitting at tables instead of individual desks.”
Reyes said, “When I’m in the UC building, I feel more motivated to be creative and do better work, you know. It’s my number one spot to study.”
Nora Williams, a MCCC student majoring in Computer Science for her second semester, said, “I like it a lot, like I’m enjoying this college in general. The [UC] building it’s really enjoyable.” She added, “The classrooms, the presentations with the board are nice, and also, it’s similar to the labs in the AD building.”
While the UC building offered needed classroom space during the renovation, the LA staff had to temporarily relocate their offices in the Engineering Technology (ET) building.
After finding out the staff couldn’t move back into their original offices in September, Heather Jennings, a Psychology professor at MCCC and President of the Faculty Association, said, “I think, like many of us that have been displaced, we are disappointed. We are anxiously anticipating our return.”
When asked about her time in the ET building, Professor Jennings said, “It is one of those unexpected silver linings. It has been a nice experience. I still, currently in the Fall semester, have opportunities to interact with people that I never got to see when I was in the Liberal Arts building.”
Professor Jennings continued, “I’m looking forward to getting back to the LA building, but I would absolutely miss hanging out with my colleagues in the ET building. I’ve had an opportunity to get to know people a little bit more, and I will miss that absolutely when we go back.”
When asked about the delay, Professor Winogora said, “I have confidence in the team under Josh Johnson, what they are doing, and how they are doing it, and I just look forward to moving into a beautiful new office and a building that will not have all the problems it had in the past.”
Professor Winogora continued, “Anybody who has done any renovation at their home knows no matter what they tell you, it’s never going to be a timely process. There are things that happen that can’t be controlled.”
