The Portland-based business college will open Monday, right on schedule.
LEWISTON – Some Andover College staffers thought the school’s four-month Lisbon Street renovation schedule was a tad optimistic.
Renovation work to bring the Portland-based business college to the old Good Shepherd Food-Bank warehouse began in December.
“Back in mid-January, one of our staff members told the contractor it would never happen,” said President Steven Ingram.
He and dozens of college dignitaries and city officials were an hand to prove that it could happen. Renovations on the 13,000-square-foot building wrapped up on March 12 and school staffers began moving in furniture on Monday. Classes are set to begin Monday, March 22.
City officials crowed about the project, the first of the city’s southern gateway renovations to wrap up. Oxford Networks is building its new headquarters next door to the college and VIP Auto Discount Center is building a flagship store across the street. Work on a parking garage north of the college is set to begin this summer.
“Not that long ago, we were all standing in this place, freezing, to announce the beginning of the project,” City Administrator Jim Bennett said. “Now, in less time than it took for most of us to lose the poundage we put on over the holidays, we have a new building.”
School staff still has work to do. The library, where Thursday’s ribbon-cutting reception took place, still needed shelves and books. They likely will be installed on Friday. Several student computers still had their covers off waiting for memory upgrades.
“Friday is really the last day we have to work before the students start showing up,” said Kate Buckley, enrollment manager for the campus.
But the school is mostly ready, she said. Each of the dozen or so classrooms was set up and ready for classes.
At least 70 students are scheduled to arrive at 9:30 a.m. Saturday for orientation. They’ll pick up their schedules, get their photographs taken for student ID cards and get familiar with the place. Classes begin Monday morning sharp.
The new campus is already paying dividends for the college, Ingram said. All of the students enrolled are from the Twin Cities or surrounding communities.
“That’s new for us,” Ingram said. “Most of our students in Portland are from Portland. There’s a circle of about 30 miles around the city where students are willing to drive in, and Lewiston is just outside of that area.”
Ingram said he hopes the school will add about 40 new students every eight weeks. The new building is designed for 250 students and supporting faculty.
“It may take us two years or so to get there,” Ingram said.
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