March 28th, 2008 – Bishop State recently announced plans for a $4.3 million major renovation of the community college's Southwest campus located at 925 Dauphin Island Pkwy.In a project expected to be completed over the next 12 months, the facelift will dramatically improve existing facilities for technical programs the college currently offers as well as program initiatives to train the workforce for a number of economic developments projected to come to Mobile.
"This is truly an exciting time to be part of Bishop State," said Dr. Jim Lowe, interim president for Bishop State. "A new look for our Southwest campus reinforces the new era and momentum here at the college."
Alabama Community College System Chancellor Bradley Byrne said, "With these renovations, we hope to create an atmosphere where students enjoy learning and provide the facilities necessary to fulfill the workforce needs of the city."
Technical programs held at the Southwest campus include automotive technology, cosmetology, carpentry, civil engineering technology, and drafting and design technology, to name a few.
"There is great potential for Alabama's economic development and workforce development, especially in Mobile," said Dr. Matthew Hughes, workforce development director for the Governor's Office of Workforce Development. "Facility upgrades like Bishop State's Southwest campus are part of our efforts to increase the quality of workforce in the state."
Enhancements planned for the campus include a four-lane entrance, a remodel of main entrances, new roofs where necessary and landscaping.
"Our first goal is to upgrade the image of the campus," said Hal Gandy, principle architect at PH&J Architects, the firm overseeing the renovation. "We want to create a good, clean environment for learning and build in flexibility for the future because of the workforce program potential at Bishop State."
Future expansion plans include two new buildings for an automotive technology center and an advanced manufacturing building. Gandy said that the planned advanced manufacturing building will provide a high-quality, fresh learning environment with classrooms and labs adjacent to each other. The building will also have distance learning capabilities, audio/visual equipment, as well as provide a space for community and workforce collaborations like trade shows, training seminars and exhibitions.
"With these efforts, we want to give our students at Bishop State a sense of pride being on campus," said Dr. Jim Cornell, a member of Bishop State's Phoenix team. "We're looking to create space for future workforce development training partnerships. With exciting happenings for Mobile's economy and the resurgence of Bishop State, we are presented an almost perfect surge of opportunity, and I'm sure we're going to need the space."
