Fort Lewis College trustees Friday approved the college’s five-year capital construction plan worth about $118 million to be submitted to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education in July.
Receipt of the plan is required before the commission recommends spending for a 2015-16 project dear to the hearts of FLC administrators, faculty and students – reconstruction of Berndt Hall to accommodate the geosciences, physics and engineering departments.
The Berndt Hall project will cost $35.3 million. The college originally asked for the entire amount – less earlier design costs – in year 2014-15. But at the request of the commission, FLC resubmitted it for two-year funding.
Consequently, $23 million was budgeted for the current year and $10.4 million for 2015-16. An earlier budget provided $1.9 million for design and construction documents.
Construction is expected to begin this summer.
The remainder of the college’s five-year capital construction plan involves improvements and expansion at Whalen Gymnasium and Reed Library and relocation and construction of a new building for the theater department.
daler@duangoherald.com
