Butler County Community College conducted an open house at its new $2 million campus in Union Township, Lawrence County, on Tuesday. About 510 students are set to start classes at the BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing campus in three weeks.

UNION TWP, Lawrence County — Butler Community College showed off its newest campus Tuesday right on time.

College president Nick Neupauer said builder Leo Golba did a good job getting the building near New Castle done well and on time.

About 510 students are set to start classes at the BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing campus in three weeks. The college saw a 10 percent increase in enrollment from the spring semester as it consolidated classes from two Lawrence County sites to one building.

"Today BC3 is taking a giant step toward becoming a regional institution," said Neupauer.

The college held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the building Tuesday evening and then opened it to the public for the first time. Several hundred people filed into the building to attend a college fair or just see the interior.

Robin Williams of Scott Township, Lawrence County, attends the main campus while studying early child care education. She said she was excited to see the building because she will be able to take some of her basic courses there in the spring.

Other students will be able to complete a bachelor's degree without ever going to another campus.

The college Tuesday night signed agreements with three colleges that will allow students to earn an associate degree as a BC3 student and then stay at the campus to finish a bachelor's degree from one of the other colleges.

The agreements are with Edinboro University in elementary education, La Roche College in psychology and Point Park University in criminal justice. BC3 also announced a partnership with Youngstown State University for a two-year program in power plant technology.

Students will be offered associate degrees in business administration, business management, criminology, elementary education, general studies, medical assistant, and pre-nursing at Lawrence Crossing.

Golba built the facility after groundbreaking in September for an estimated $2 million. The college will lease the 25,000-square-foot building from Golba.

But, the campus site isn't finished yet. Golba said an area is ready-to-build for other tenants, including a coffee shop, child care center, and business incubator.

From the triangular facade bearing the BC3 logo and into the simple layout inside, BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing resembles the college's Cranberry Township campus.

However, the Lawrence County facility went a step further by arranging classrooms, lab space, conference rooms and administration area differently.

Diane DeCarbo, director of Lawrence County sites, said she's excited to see the students' faces on the first day of classes, Aug. 25. Never before, when the classes were in the Lawrence County Vo-Tech and the Lawrence County Learning Center, have the students had a common area or lounge. Some classes will continue at the Learning Center.

She's also glad to have her staff in one place, she said.