WHARTON - From an upgrad - ed elevator to new air-conditioning to a 15,000 square foot construction trades facility, Wharton County Ju - nior College has implemented vari - ous projects to improve its campuses.
WCJC Facilities Management Advisor Mike Feyen recently shared project updates with the WCJC Board of Trustees.
Projects include: HVAC upgrades - Plans are to replace two 40-ton air-conditioning units at the Gene Bahnsen Gymnasi - um on the Wharton campus and two smaller units that service the fitness center. Cost is just shy of $300,000. Gym roof - The Gene Bahnsen Gymnasium will receive a new roof. The standing seam metal roof will be removed and replaced with a Modified Bitumen roof for just over $344,000. Library roof - Replace the roof at the J.M. Hodges Learning Center library on the Wharton campus. The cost is $933,000.
Bay City Construction Trades - Phase 1 included renovating 15,000 square feet of a 22,000 square foot area at the Bay City campus. Com - pleted in the fall of 2024. Phase 2 includes remodeling the remaining 7,000 square foot area to accommo - date plumbing and pipefitting cours - es. The overall project is valued at more than $2 million. New student center - The facility will house the bookstore, student lounge and cafeteria. The Hutchins Building is scheduled for demolition. The estimated cost is ap - proximately $6 million plus fixtures, furniture and equipment. Library renovations - Besides an upgraded roof, the Wharton campus library will be renovated to accommodate services current - ly provided in the Administration Building. The cost is estimated at $500,000.
Foundation repair - Storm drainage modifications and reme - diation are planned to correct foun - dation issues at WCJC's Richmond campus. Repairs will include foun - dation lift, windows, sheetrock, flooring, exterior brickwork, and possibly plumbing. The estimated cost is $450,000. Student Center elevator - Modernization to the Pioneer Stu - dent Center began earlier this year and was completed on Jan. 13. The elevator passed state inspection and is back in service. The cost was just over $91,000.
Mullins Hall air-conditioning - Roof-top air-conditioning units were replaced after being damaged by Hurricane Beryl this past year. A power pole was also replaced. The cost was $40,000.
