The curtain is going up on a $6.5 million renovation to the Jefferson College Fine Arts Center on the Hillsboro campus, and college officials say those who see it will be impressed.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony and related activities are planned Wednesday, March 11. The schedule of events includes: 3:45 p.m., doors open; 4 p.m., guest speakers; 4:15 p.m., a ribbon-cutting ceremony; and 4:15-5:30 p.m., guided tours of the building and live entertainment. The event includes light refreshments and special giveaways.
“It is open to the public, and we welcome everyone to attend,” Jefferson College President Dena McCaffrey said. “The renovations have added high-quality learning and gallery spaces to meet the needs of our students and community.”
She said the building is important not only for Jefferson College students, but anyone interested in the arts.
“Jefferson College is the center for the arts in our county, and this renovation gives us the ability to expand our programs and offerings,” she said.
The college Board of Trustees in July 2024 agreed to pay $6,461,900 to Brockmiller Construction of Farmington for the project, which included a 6,000-square-foot addition to the west side of the building and renovation of about 9,000 square feet in the existing building. Brockmiller submitted the lowest of seven bids.
With the addition, the building jumped from about 26,000 square feet to about 32,000 square feet. The addition gives the music department new state-of-the-art rehearsal space, college officials said.
Other improvements included:
■ Making the building more ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible, which included building a new east side (main) entrance and installing an elevator on the building’s east side to go with an existing elevator on its north side.
■ Expanded and renovated theater lobby.
■ Renovated existing restrooms and added a family and ADA-compliant restroom.
■ Renovated the parking facilities with expanded accessible parking on the east side of the building to complement the new entrance.
■ Constructed an office suite for the dean of humanities.
■ Constructed an art gallery room.
■ Installed new electrical hardware as part of a power upgrade for the facility.
For more information, go to jeffco.edu.