Nic Board Hears More On Dorm Officials Pick Three Design Firms, Hope To Begin Building Next Year

North Idaho College could begin construction on a 200-bed residence hall as early as March 2001.

NIC trustees were told Wednesday night that college officials researching building a new dormitory have selected three architecture firms as finalists to propose designs for the structure. Two of the firms are from Spokane; one is from Portland.

The trustees have not approved building the dormitory yet, but have allowed college officials to research the idea. A proposal likely will be presented to the trustees within the next two months.

The new dorm is proposed for the northeast corner of Garden Avenue and College Drive. It could take up as much as 57,500 square feet and be up to three stories high.

“It’s going to be a big building,” said Rolly Jurgens, the college’s vice president for administrative services. “It’ll be one of the biggest buildings on campus.”

Jurgens said the dormitory could be complete as early as December 2001.

Because of its size, the new hall likely would eliminate up to four of the college’s eight tennis courts. Because the money to build those courts came from the federal government, the college would have to provide outdoor recreational land of equal value, Jurgens said.

The dorm would replace Shepperd-Gridley Hall, which was torn down in 1998 after being built in the 1960s. Student surveys have shown the need for more on-campus housing.

The college anticipates paying for the dorm with revenue bonds, which would be repaid as students pay for housing.

In other news, the board was told that fall enrollment would set a record.

“We’re on track to once again set an all-time high for enrollment at North Idaho College,” said Jerry Gee, vice president for instruction.

However, Gee could not elaborate because of an agreement between NIC and other schools not to release fall enrollment figures until 10 days into the new school year. Classes started Monday.

Last fall’s enrollment of 3,943 set a record. The college is quickly running out of room on its 47-acre campus. A consultant has said maximum capacity is 6,000 students. Already, the college has added early morning and late-night classes to accommodate student demand. Gee also said that some instructors had increased the size of their classes to fit more students.

Student body President Janel Falk said that in one of her classes, three people sat at tables for two. “Our elbows were touching,” she said.

Trustees also discussed possible upcoming state legislative action aimed at easing the burden for people who pay property taxes to support community colleges - which occurs only in three Idaho counties. Last year, a bill sponsored by state Rep. Don Pischner, R-Coeur d’Alene, proposed a state income tax credit for people in Kootenai, Jerome and Twin Falls counties, the only three where residents’ property taxes support community colleges. That bill died in the House.