By Renita Bennett
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Camden County College is adding a new building to its campus. This is part of the second of three phases the school is undergoing as part of the campus renovation series that went into effect in 2005.
The new science building will be a three-story building nestled on 105,000 square feet just behind the CIM building. It will feature 10 biology labs and six chemistry labs grouped around a central preparation area. All equipment will be standard modernized technology. Along with the labs there will be 27 general class and lecture rooms. Estimated cost for this building is $30 million, part of the $83 million initiative.
Talks held in spring 2008 among the math, science and health career faculty and staff brought up concepts such as a first floor clinic for dental, ophthalmic and veterinary needs as well as a café run by both the food science manager and nutrition science program students. Also proposed were state-of-the-art laboratories with walk-in cold and incubator rooms and an experimental laboratory for nanotechnology and immunology. A mock hospital was also discussed for paramedic/EMT, surgical technology, CNA and LPN students.
Chris Tanguay, a 20-year-old student majoring in psychology, said he feels this new building would not benefit him, stating, “The campus is fine as it is. More buildings would create chaos.”
He said he feels parking would become an issue with the onset of a new building and walking farther on campus would be a hassle.
Camden County College’s new building is an attempt to attract more students. Susan Coulby, the media relations manager on the college campus, said it will allow Camden County College to educate more students. It will increase course offerings at the school and will better serve the members of the community. The new building will be handicapped accessible.
Alexander Orlando, a 20-year-old photojournalism student at Camden County College, said he feels though the building will not benefit him directly it will benefit the students in the programs the building will house. He said, “I hoped for a new darkroom but science will do.”
Construction of this building began in fall 2010 and hopes are for its completion in 2012.
Construction is taking place on the Camden County College Blackwood campus. By Renita Bennett, CCC Journalism Program