Hawkeye Community College planning construction projects this spring

WATERLOO | Hawkeye Community College is laying the groundwork for some construction this spring.

The Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved publishing notices the college would be accepting bids for three different projects. They include remodeling of restrooms on both levels of Hawkeye Center, waterproofing and storm sewer replacement at Black Hawk Hall and relocating the colleges child care center to Black Hawk Hall. Work will get underway on the projects in April or May and be finished in August.

The men's and women's restrooms on the first floor of Hawkeye Center would be completely demolished as part of the project and replaced with three individual unisex facilities, each with a baby-changing station. The second floor restrooms will be completely remodeled with plumbing and electrical upgrades plus ceiling and lighting improvements.

The remodeling "will not only make them more modern, but it will make them ADA compliant," said Dan Gillen, Hawkeye's vice president of the administration and finance. "We are continuously trying to improve the facilities." The Americans with Disabilities Act includes standards that ensure access to a restroom for people facing mobility issues, such as using a wheelchair.

Dan Channer of Struxture Architects, who is overseeing design of the plans, said the number of restroom fixtures will be reduced by the remodeling. They will go from six to three on the first floor and 11 to eight on the second floor. Fewer are needed because less people use the restrooms since the cafeteria moved out when the Brock Student Center opened in 2008.

Waterproofing is deteriorating on some of the original parts of Black Hawk Hall that were built in 1974. The west wall and portions of the north wall will be excavated to fix those age-related problems, which have resulted in water leaking into the lower levels of the building. In addition, a retaining wall will be constructed to alleviate heavy water flow at the south entrance.

Channer said during big rainstorms water "is coming around the existing retaining wall and it manages to make its way into the building."

Hawkeye's childhood development center, located in a building across Orange Road from campus, would be expanded as it moves into Black Hawk Hall. Gillen said it will begin serving children from the early infant stage to 18 months old and increase the space available for toddlers and other preschoolers. Nearly 50 children will be served in the facility, up from a little more than 30 now.

The project entails renovating four upper-level classrooms in the northwest corner of the building. Along with four age-appropriate classrooms, the center will have a kitchen, office space and restrooms. The 4,500-square-foot space now contains interior design classrooms and a computer lab. The area is available because the program is ending.

Early childhood education students will be involved with the program. "It's actually a wonderful realignment of our space," said Hawkeye President Linda Allen.

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Hawkeye Community College planning construction projects this spring