Blinn trustees take first steps toward new science, technology, and innovation building on the Brenham Campus
Blinn also will seek bids for Bryan Campus renovation and repair project
January 16, 2019
The Blinn College District Board of Trustees continues to invest in first-class facilities for its students.
During its regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 15, the board authorized the College to proceed with the issuance and sale of Series 2019 revenue bonds. Proceeds from the sale of the revenue bonds will be used to fund the development of a new science, technology, and innovation building on the Brenham Campus. During Tuesday’s meeting, the board authorized Blinn officials to request qualifications for an architect to design the proposed facility and to request proposals for construction manager at risk services.
While the project remains in its preliminary stages, College administrators anticipate that the science, technology, and innovation building will provide expanded laboratory space for Blinn’s science, engineering, and health science programs. Blinn’s Brenham Campus Vocational Nursing Program is one of the premier programs in the state, with more than 97 percent of students who have taken the National Council Licensure Examination over the past five years passing on the first attempt. The Brenham Campus also is home to the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Blinn-Brenham, which allows high achieving students to pursue their engineering degree while co-enrolled at Texas A&M University and Blinn.
Construction of the new science, technology, and innovation facility will continue Blinn’s commitment to updating its campuses with modern educational facilities. In 2018, Blinn opened the Walter C. Schwartz Building at the RELLIS Campus, an 83,000-square-foot facility with 19 classrooms and eight high-tech laboratories. As a partner in the RELLIS Academic Alliance, Blinn students can complete their freshman- and sophomore-level courses, then transfer seamlessly into one of the Texas A&M University System’s regional universities also located at RELLIS.
Last August also saw the grand opening of Mill Creek Hall, a 464-bed student housing facility on the Brenham Campus that includes two technology classrooms designed to encourage collaborative learning. Other 2018 projects included landscaping and lighting improvements on the Bryan Campus and renovations to the Brenham Campus dining hall.
Those improvements helped Blinn reach record enrollment of 19,581 students last Fall. That total included 1,515 students at the new RELLIS Campus and a 16.8 percent increase in Brenham Campus enrollment (2,307 students).
In other business, the board authorized College administrators to seek competitive sealed proposals from contractors for services related to cast stone replacement and exterior wall rehabilitation for Bryan Campus buildings A, C, D, F, G, and H. The project proposal includes reconstruction of the Library (C) and Student Center (F) entrance facades, replacement of all suspended cast stone and exterior wall expansion joint sealants, and pressure washing and application of a penetrating sealer to exterior masonry surfaces and cast stone elements.
Trustees authorized the College to award a guaranteed maximum price of $2.47 million to Madison Construction, L.P. for the W.L. Moody, Jr. Library renovation project on the Brenham Campus.
The board also ordered a May 4, 2019, general election for the board members representing At-Large Positions 1, 2, and 3 to serve full six-year terms. The board authorized the College to enter into an election services contract with Washington County and adopted agreements with the City of Brenham, Brenham ISD, and Burton ISD for joint elections.
Applicants seeking a place on the ballot must file by Friday, Feb. 15.
