Northeast Iowa Community College Board of Trustees selects Straka Johnson Architects to lead design and construction
The Northeast Iowa Community College Board of Trustees has selected Dubuque firm Straka Johnson Architects, P.C. to lead design, construction and renovations for projects funded by the passage of a $39 million bond levy in September. The Board of Trustees selected the architectural firm at its meeting December 17 based on the recommendations of the College, a nine-member search committee and the Request for Proposals (RFPs) formally submitted to NICC for consideration.
Straka Johnson Architects serves clients in the Dubuque tri-state area, and the firm has worked on a wide range of project types including religious institutions, educational facilities, health care facilities, industrial facilities, recreational facilities, commercial institutions, transportation terminals and facilities, restaurants, multi-family residential and single family residential projects.
Rhonda Seibert, NICC associate vice president of operations, explained that the architectural firm will first focus its design services on the largest, most comprehensive projects identified by the College: the renovation of the Peosta campus Main Building, the Max Clark Hall building on the Calmar campus, the Dubuque Center and the Town Clock Business Center in Dubuque.
“Northeast Iowa Community College is excited to begin the renovations that were identified in our master facility plan. I am looking forward to working with the Straka Johnson Architect team as the College develops plans that will enhance the learning environment for our students, and provide continued service for our communities,” Seibert said.
A participatory planning process that includes the input of building users, staff and the community will help guide construction and renovations, according to Seibert. During this process the architects will work with NICC to obtain information on room arrangements, services provided in the buildings, and types of equipment and furnishings. The results will assist in assessing current conditions and create viable options for decision-making.
Voters in northeast Iowa overwhelming passed the College’s bond levy continuation measure September 11, 2018. The $39 million levy will support renovations and updates throughout its 5,056-square mile district and identified four major priorities to be supported by the approved bond levy: educational programming and services, which include creating flexible, updated and collaborative learning spaces; infrastructure, including renovations to the Peosta Campus Main Building and Max Clark Hall on the Calmar campus; security, including district-wide camera and door security systems to enhance safety; and technology priorities that include replacing network servers and cybersecurity systems.
To learn more about ongoing construction progress and projects at NICC, visit www.nicc.edu/bondlevy.
