Increased lecture hall space and cutting edge classrooms were celebrated with a grand re-opening ribbon cutting ceremony at Paris Junior College’s W. Frank Grimes Center.
PJC President, Dr. Pam Anglin, and faculty and staff gather with Chamber ambassadors to celebrate the grand re-opening of the W. Frank Grimes Center. (Photo by Josh Allen, eParisExtra)
Many attended the celebration, which was held on Thursday, August 22.
Originally called the W. Frank Grimes Natural Sciences and Mathematics Center, the south wing of the Administration Building will now host social sciences classrooms and offices, PJC officials said.
History, government, psychology and sociology programs that were located in the Bobby R. Walters Workforce Training Center across Clarksville Street, will now be in place to greet students when the fall semester starts on August 26.
“A total of $2 million was spent by PJC on architectural fees, construction, new technology and furniture,” PJC public relations spokesman, Margaret Ruff, said. “The renovation includes seven classrooms, two lecture halls and 15 faculty offices, as well as a new student lobby.”
The administration building was built in 1940 and the Grimes Center was added in 1972.
Student safety is enhanced by the relocation, since academic classes will be consolidated on the south side of Clarksville Street and workforce programs on the north side.
Now fewer students will need to cross that busy thoroughfare across the busy Clarksville Street.
Dallas-based Balfour Beatty Construction was the construction manager at risk on the project, which is a role the company successfully held for the Math and Science Building and the South Residence Hall.
By Josh Allen, eParisExtra