Renovation plans for BC3's Cranberry campus are displayed in the school's lobby, which will be upgraded along with other areas of the campus.

CRANBERRY TWP — Renovations will begin in July at Butler County Community College's branch campus in the township.

BC3's board of trustees approved nearly $1 million in bid awards at its Wednesday meeting at the Cranberry campus to get the project started on July 1.

The natural science lab, main lobby, bathrooms and faculty offices are being renovated. The new student lounge area will include private study areas, a laptop bar area, game room, TV lounge and an information/registration area.

There will also be new carpet, paint and ceilings.

First, the south half of the building will be closed for the summer for renovations, said Brian Optiz, executive director of operations for BC3. There will be a 3-week window where the restrooms will be out of commission while they are upgraded before the start of the fall semester.

Then the north half of the building will be renovated in the fall. The project should wrap up by the end of October, Optiz said.

The general construction bid was awarded to Fred L Burns, based in Shippenville, Pa., for $522,500, with alternate bid 1 at $10,600 and alternate bid 9 at $9,900.

Plumbing construction was awarded to East End Plumbing, of Pittsburgh, for $149,000 with an alternate bid at $17,400.

Optiz said they included some alternate bids to give them options to add-on items if it fits in the budget. The alternate plumbing bid is put an acid neutralization tank in the science lab that allows the school to hold chemistry classes there.

“Here with our nursing expansion on the main campus, the natural science lab with the ability to hold chemistry classes down here was a priority, so we ramped that up,” Optiz said.

Fire protection went to J & J Fire Protection, based in Butler, for $34,265, with alternate bid 1 at $6,156. Electrical construction was awarded to Right Electric, of Butler for $171,171, and alternate bid 1 for $5,225.

Mechanical construction was awarded to Advanced Plumbing and Mechanical, of Aliquippa, for $68,900 and alternate bid 1 at $185.

Additionally, the board approved the DPH Architecture, of Canfield, Ohio, to complete architectural and engineering services for the renovation for $83,763.

The project is funded in part from $400,000 in leftover state capital money that became available this spring and matching funds from the college, Optiz said.

Ray Steffler, board chairman, commended the college's staff and administration for having a “shovel-ready project” when the funds became available.