May 12, 2009                                                              Contact: Abe Villarreal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                 Phone: (575) 538-6336 news@wnmu.edu

 

Juan Chacon Building Groundbreaking

WNMU Celebrates Expansion, Renovation

 

SILVER CITY, N.M –

Silver City, N.M. – Western New Mexico University will break ground at the site of the Juan Chacon Building expansion and renovation on Friday, May 15, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. on the main campus.  The site of the groundbreaking will be on the corner of E Street and College Avenue in the Juan Chacon Building lower parking area.  

Expansion of the current building will mean that the WNMU Nursing program will have a new home, moving from its current location of Watts Hall off of the main campus.

The $10 million project will renovate the 25-year-old Juan Chacon Building turning it into a one-stop center for students. The registration process for new students will be enhanced with all necessary offices including housing, financial aid, admissions, and business affairs located in one building.

The project will also provide vital space for programs such as nursing, distance-learning center, digital media production, and computer and network technology.  

Funding for the new 16,207-square-foot facility comes from a combination of sources including the passage of a $7 million General Obligation Bond in 2006.   
The renovation includes the leveling of the Old Student Memorial Building (Cooler), replacing it with green space and parking.

Speakers for the groundbreaking event include: New Mexico State Representatives Rudy Martinez and Dianne Hamilton; Tony Trujillo, Chair, Board of Regents; Faye Vowell, Provost; Chris Farren, Vice President, Student Affairs; Sherri Bays, Vice President for Business Affairs; and Pat McIntire, Chair, Nursing Department.

Alamogordo-based White Sands Construction is the general contractor for the project.   

 

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