Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Drawing brings college plan to life
The vision of a new college facility in Lawrence County has been given shape with an architect’s drawing of the building and 40-acre campus.
Members of the Lawrence County Higher Education Committee released a diagram of the two-story, 40,000-square foot brick and limestone facility that is projected to be ready for students in Fall 2019.
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“This is beyond anything any of us had pictured in our minds,” said Committee Chairman Jim Cone. “We’re so excited to share this beautiful plan with the community.”
The building will house classes leading to an Associate’s degree from Columbia State Community College and classes leading to a Bachelor’s from Tennessee Tech 
University. Middle Tennessee State University and Martin Methodist College are also interested in offering third- and fourth-year classes there.
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Bauer Askew Architecture of Nashville was chosen for the job because of their recent experience designing the Williamson County campus of Columbia State. They were asked to incorporate elements of traditional and contemporary college architecture, with a nod to Lawrence County’s history.
Interior plans include office space, a community room and large common area for students. Columbia State’s Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Cissy Holt is working with faculty and IT staff to plan classroom and lab space.
Groundbreaking is planned for April, 2018, and to save funds, groundwork will also begin on a second, 20,000-square foot building immediately southwest of the first. That facility will house courses leading to certificates from the Tennessee College of Advanced Technology (TCAT).
The architect’s drawing of the campus includes eleven buildings which will be built as the student body grows, Cone explained. The plan calls for three connected but separate areas – the western quadrangle dedicated to technical classes; the center to college courses; and the eastern to university classes. A Great Lawn on the east end of the campus can host anything from community events to family picnics.
The campus is located in the southwest corner of the intersection of Highway 43 South and the Highway 64 bypass, with an entrance from Highway 64. Some trees will be removed, but most trimmed from the bottom up so the college can be seen from both roads.
“It was very important that the campus be adjacent to these major highways,” Cone said. “We wanted the site to be easily accessible for students who live here, and for those who will come from outside Lawrence County. We also wanted it to be in a place where it would make a great visual impact.”
Lawrenceburg and Lawrence County governments have committed $1.5 million each to the project and the state of Tennessee has already given $4.6 million.
Private fundraising for $1.5 million is about to get underway, directed by fundraising chairman Jonathan Edwards. Major donations have already come from First Farmers & Merchants Bank, Edwards Oil/Quik Mart, Doss Brothers, Parkes Lumber, Southern Craft, the Hazel Kraus Foundation, Marguerite Rose Burton Foundation, the Holtsford Foundation, and Columbia State.
Lawrence County government will own the facility and lease it to Columbia State, which will manage the building and lease classroom space to other schools. The Lawrence County Higher Education Committee (LCHEC) will serve as advisors to the county.
As Chairman of LCHEC, Cone is available to speak to any group about the college plan, and can be contacted at 931-244-4754. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 279, Lawrenceburg, and checks should be made payable to LCHEC.
