College opens new green building
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<p align="justify">Heartland Community College unveiled the $22.5 million environmentally friendly Workforce Development Center at a grand opening ceremony Wednesday.
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<p align="justify">Heartland President Jon Astroth offered a greeting before the ribbon cutting to visitors from Northeast Normal University in Changchun, China, who came to see the environmental features of the building.
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<p align="justify">The building houses 35 new classrooms, technology and manufacturing labs, as well as centers for the college's technology division, continuing education program, workforce services and a new Green Institute.
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<p align="justify">Students will fill the halls and rooms of the center when Heartland resumes classes Aug. 16.
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<p align="justify">The 101,000-square-foot-building leads the way for Heartland's ambitious $59 million campus expansion plan.
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<p align="justify">"The Workforce Development Center will undoubtedly be the flagship for this campus and lead us into Phase II of our new construction," said Harry Dunham, chairman of the college's board of trustees.
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<p align="justify">The Phase II expansion plan calls for the construction of a new student center, classroom building, fitness and recreation center, child care center, multipurpose auditorium and conference center, receiving building and two athletic fields.
<p align="justify">Heartland has not yet begun construction on Phase II, but in June the board the issuance of bonds to cover the expansion costs.
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<p align="justify">Heartland's Workforce Development center is the first state-funded building in Illinois created with a green design, and Heartland officials are seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for the project.
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<p align="justify">The LEED Green Building Rating System, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, provides standards for environmentally sustainable construction.
<p align="justify">Dunham said Phase II will follow suit in green design.
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<p align="justify">The building will use 50 percent less energy than a typical building of its size, said Randall West, principal of BLDD Architects Inc.
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<p align="justify">All future state construction projects in Illinois will use the environmental practices used in the construction of the Workforce Development Center as a foundation, he said.
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<p align="center">Reach Journal Star reporter Fitzgerald M. Doubet at (309) 686-3041 or state@pjstar.com.
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