Columbia College releases new plan for campus growth
With full dorms and higher enrollment, Columbia College has new plan to tackle growth.
Columbia’s Community Development Department held an informal hearing on the school’s revised master plan. Staff member Rusty Palmer said the school submitted the map in February to consolidate its campus for zoning purposes, in order to streamline the process of building new facilities.
The map details some possible projects, chief among them a six-story “academic/residence hall” located next to the soccer field on Eighth Street. Expansion of Dulany Hall, the campus’ dining facility, and several parking lots around campus also dot the map.
ABC 17 News detailed other actions the school took this year to set themselves up for future work. The city vacated its right-of-way along Pannell Street, which leads to the Southwell Complex, Columbia College’s major athletic and event center. Plant and facilities director Cliff Jarvis told ABC 17 News in January that the school could perform work when it had the time and money to do so with the right-of-way.
Columbia College said in August that all of its residence halls were full for the start of the school year. A freshman and transfer class of 402 contributed to a 12.8 percent increase in “day campus” enrollment from last fall semester.
