WESSON – Construction on two new men’s honors dormitories atCopiah-Lincoln Community College is nearing completion, and schoolofficials are looking forward to students occupying the newfacilities next semester.

“We’re virtually complete. The weather has caused some delays onthe outside work,” said Ken Bailey, board of trustees chairman ofthe buildings and grounds committee.

The two structures on the northern part of the campus will becalled Lincoln Hall and Lawrence Hall. Bailey praised thefacilities as modern and designed for low maintenance in thefuture.

“It won’t cost a lot to maintain them over time,” Baileysaid.

Following a recent walk through with the construction manager,Co-Lin President Dr. Howell Garner said a few minor items needed tobe addressed. He mentioned chairs that will be moved in before theholidays.

“Everything else is built in,” Garner said about furnishings inthe buildings. “They’re really nice.”

According to a cost reconciliation, the project cost was about$64,000 less than projections. The actual cost was $1.24 millionwhile the projected cost was $1.31 million.

Almost $60,00 of the savings was related to construction managerPaul Jackson and Son, Inc. The dorm project was the first time theschool had used a construction manager to oversee work activity, asopposed to the school dealing directly with a contractor.

The savings got some board members’ attention.

‘”It appears that turned out quite well here,” said board memberMelton King.

Garner said the project was successful because of the goodconstruction manager, a good architect Carl Nobles and Co-LinGrounds Supervisor Darrell Jordan’s involvement in variousaspects.

“We feel real good about it,” Garner said.

Garner, however, said the school likely would not be able to usea construction manager on its next project. With the dorms beingbuilt with local funds from supporting counties, the state Bureauof Buildings and Grounds was not involved in project.

“It was a very easy project to use a construction manager on,”Garner said. “It worked out very well.”

Regarding the next project, trustees Thursday chose Nobles andSingleton Architects as the architects for the school’sInstructional Technology Building. Garner said the buildingattracted 18 submissions, the most of any project in the state,from architects who were interested in designing the facility.

“We had a lot of interest,” Garner said.

The Instructional Technology Building is a $3 millionconstruction project that is expected to be ready for use in Augustof 204. Garner said it will have three primary functions as ageneral classroom facility, a state-of-the-art computer lab andfaculty offices and training area.

The building will be located on the site of the old LincolnHall. Trustees Thursday approved a $17,377 bid for removal of thebuilding, which is expected to start in January.