BUTLER TWP— A custom building for Butler County Community College will be built in Union Township, Lawrence County.

The college announced Wednesday it selected Leo Golba of New Castle as the builder and developer for a project along Route 224.

Golba may begin construction on the building, expected to cost between $1.5 million and $2 million, within three months. The 25,000-square-foot building will then be leased to the college for classroom space. It is expected to open in May 2008.

The college had considered six Lawrence County locations to consolidate its classes offered at the Lawrence County Learning Center, the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center, and Neshannock High School.

"Visibility was very important to me, and accessibility,"President Cynthia Azari said. "It's a growing area."

Azari said she was looking for a location with restaurants nearby and one that would offer student safety.

The process to choose a site began last year after one location told the college it would begin charging BC3 rent. It heated up when Lawrence County commissioner Ed Fosnaught

began a push to bring the college to New Castle.The 13.4 acre site, which formerly housed Riley's Fun Spot, is 3.5 miles from New Castle at the intersection of Covert Road and Route 224. In addition to the building, it is expected to have 384 parking spots and room for growth."The township has been very supportive," Azari said of Union officials.Golba will do a traffic study to determine if road improvements are needed, she said.The college began offering credit and noncredit classes to students in Lawrence County in 1989. There are 500 students in that county."We expect that to double in the next three years," Azari.Part of the growth may come from expanded academic programs, including medical assistant programs, said Bill O'Brien vice president for continuing education and off-campus centers."It was getting harder and harder to service students out of three locations," O'Brien said.Nick Neupauer, vice president for academic affairs, said the building will go through a routine Middle States evaluation to offer degrees.The college will now enter into final negotiations with Golba on the amount of the lease and final terms.