Western Nevada Community College has big plans for the future - plans that include a 450-seat performing arts theater, a library, a student union and an observatory.
"We're looking for more of a campus feeling, more of an ambience of a college than we have now," said Helaine Jesse, the college's vice president for institutional advancement.
Fred Hinners, the publications writer for the college, said the sites have been selected and the plan will be presented to the public Thursday evening while representatives from the college and architectural firms are on hand to answer questions.
"We want the public to be aware of what we're doing," Hinners said. "We want them to know that we are going to be building. We want to be good neighbors to the Carson City community."
The master plan is being created by the architectural firms of Wallace, Roberts & Todd of San Francisco and Hershenow and Kleppenstein of Reno.
In creating the plan, they are exploring trends in educational programs, technology demands for communication and teaching and anticipated facilities needs.
Hinners said various factors will be taken into consideration including the environmental effects, possible obstruction of view, open space use and recreation, vehicle and pedestrian traffic and infrastructure.
Work is scheduled to begin next spring on the 35,000-square-foot library and student union building at an estimated cost of $6.9 million.
Ground will also be broken next spring on the 2,500-square-foot Jack C. Davis Observatory. It is expected to cost about $500,000.
The 45,000-square-foot performing arts center will cost around $15 million, and Jesse said the college plans to begin construction by 2005.
If you go:
What: Unveiling of WNCC's master plan
Where: Aspen Building, Sarah Winnemucca Hall
When: Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
