Construction begins for the Valley Center for Arts and Learning at MSC
by Michelle Saport |
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Talis Colberg, UAA Chancellor Tom Case, Rep. Bill Stoltze, UA Regent Gloria O'Neill, Gloria Okeson, Physical Plant Coordinator Eric Blomskog, Sen. Charlie Huggins and UAA Associate Vice Chancellor Chris Turletes.
Following the groundbreaking ceremony on July 18, construction is officially under way for the new $20 million Valley Center for Arts and Learning building at Matanuska-Susitna College (MSC). Expected to open in December 2014, the latest addition to the MSC campus will house a classroom, drama lab, music space and instrument storage, as well as display areas, gathering and study spaces, and a 500-seat theater for lectures, public gatherings and conferences.
For the groundbreaking, around 100 faculty, guests, staff and other dignitaries attended. Notable guests included various representatives from Earthscape, a landscape and architecture firm, Kumin & Associates Inc., who are designing the theater, BBFM Engineering Inc., RSA Engineering Inc., Landry & Bogan (theater consultants), MCH Inc., Contract Hardware Inc. and the main contractor, Roger Hickel Contracting Inc. The speakers, introduced by MSC Director Talis Colberg, were State Senator Charlie Huggins, UAA Chancellor Tom Case, State Representative Bill Stoltze and Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities and Campus Services Chris Turletes. Gloria Okeson, the spouse of former, longtime MSC director Al Okeson, also helped with the official shovel ceremony.
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