Design of Lanier Tech's new campus beginning to take shape

Preliminary plans for Lanier Technical College's new campus on Highway 365 at Howard Road in Hall County are beginning to emerge.

 

The school's president, Dr. Ray Perren, briefed the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors on the campus work Thursday afternoon.

 

"This is a master plan, again, this is rough sketch.  You'll see further developed plans as we go into the future, but basically wanted you to know that this campus will consist of six buildings, about 316,000 square feet," Perren said.

 

Perhaps the focal point of the project will be an approximately 34,000 square foot conference center, built on a hill on the property.

 

"(It) will be easily seen from Georgia 365.  It will include a banquet facility (and) a culinary arts program.  It will also have our student bookstore and campus cafe," Perren said.

 

Early plans call for a building each to house administration, allied health, instruction, technical/industrial and economic development/facilities.

 

The technical/industrial building would be the largest of the five, according to Perren.  The 94-95,000 square foot facility would house training in trades, such as heating and air.

 

The three-story allied health building would allow the college to move its radiologic technology program onto campus.  It currently operates at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

 

Perren said all of the buildings will share a similar design look.

 

"The motif that we're using is rock, brick and of course it won't be wood, but a wood look to the facade of the campus, and that will be carried out throughout all six buildings."

 

The design team includes Pond and Associates, Stevens and Wilkinson, Hughes Good O'Leary and Ryan and Rochester and Associates.

 

The new campus will also include several outdoor training facilities, according to Perren.  They include a commercial truck driving range, fire science, electrical utilities, motor sports and telecommunications sites.

 

Among those are a mock racing pit area and a possible simulated cell phone tower base building.

 

As the design team continues the process, Perren said the 365 property has actually grown by about seven acres in recent days.

 

"A couple of weeks ago, to fill out the rest of the campus, we got a donation from Jill Mansfeld and the Ramsey Family Partnership, so this is about a 95-acre tract of land that we will build this new college on."

 

Officials are expected to break ground on the project in September.  Perren said the estimated completion window is in the fall of 2018.

 

The construction team includes New South and Carroll Daniel Construction companies, according to Perren.

 

When the project is complete, Perren said it will represent an overall investment of about $110 million.  College officials are expected to begin a capital gifts campaign next year with a goal of raising about $2.5 million to augment to the state funding.

 

The University of North Georgia is slated to take over Lanier Tech's current Gainesville campus in the Oakwood area.  The university's Gainesville campus is adjacent to the current Lanier Tech site.