Columbia College set to break ground on new academic building and dorm

Columbia College will break ground on a new $20 million academic hall and residence hall next year.

It comes after the school received approval of its campus development plan from the Columbia College Board of Trustees and the Columbia City Council.

The building will serve as the college’s new home for the School of Business Administration and will include a 150-bed dormitory.

Columbia College reports it saw a 13 percent increase in student enrollment last fall and expects the number to grow this fall.

“Our rapid growth here in Columbia means we simply don’t have enough space to house our students, many of whom prefer to live on campus,” said Dr. Scott Dalrymple, president of Columbia College.

The school expects to break ground on the building in the early spring. Construction is expected to be completed by August 2019.

The 60,000 square foot, four-story facility will be located north of Brown Hall and south of R. Marvin Owens field. Columbia College is funding the project through fundraising and existing college funds.

“While there may be vacant rooms elsewhere in the city, those don’t help Columbia College students wishing to live and study on our campus. This is also an opportunity to provide a home for our growing School of Business Administration.”