The Blinn Board of Trustees took steps toward the construction of a new administration building on the Bryan Campus at its meeting Tuesday.
The board authorized the College to negotiate and execute a contract for architectural services and seek proposals for a construction manager at risk for the building.
The $30.95 million project includes construction of an approximately 45,000-square-foot administration building at the site of the former Rivergate Church. The facility will house Blinn’s bookstore, police department and administrative offices. It will also house student services currently located in the Central Administrative Services Building at the Tejas Shopping Center, including academic advising, enrollment services and financial aid.
Additionally, Blinn will extend Nash Street to create a new campus entrance with an accompanying monument sign and demolish the existing church, adjacent structures and the Bryan Campus S Building. The administration building is expected to be ready for occupation in fall 2023.
In other business on Tuesday, the board authorized the College to name the forthcoming Brenham Campus student housing complex on Prairie Lea Street as Prairie Lea Hall. The approximately 500-bed residence hall is scheduled to open for student use in fall 2022.
The board also authorized College administrators to negotiate and execute contracts for:
- The purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the RELLIS Campus administration building.
- Engineering services related to the College Avenue street and sidewalk realignment on the Brenham Campus.
- Engineering services and seeking proposals for construction related to chiller replacement and building automation upgrades on the Bryan Campus.
- Architectural services and to seek proposals for construction related to interior upgrades and access control upgrades on the Bryan Campus.