Amy Wilson, left, county commissioner chairman Dale Pinkerton's administrative assistant, and Stephanie Sellers, county commissioner Jim Lokhaiser's administrative assistant, discuss plans for the Butler County Community College Student Success Center before groundbreaking ceremonies Thursday. The center, scheduled for completion in fall 2009, will combine numerous campus services that are currently located in five buildings.

BUTLER TWP — Minutes before officials turned the first shovels of dirt for the new student service building at Butler County Community College, they reflected on what the building will mean to the students.

County Commissioner Jim Lokhaiser said he thought of the squabbling in the county about the fund balance the college amassed to build the $6.2 million facility. Then he thought about the $60 million jail being built in the city.

"Which is more important?" he asked the crowd of 200 gathered at the center of campus.

Ashley Ritson, a student involved in planning the building, explained just how much time the building, dubbed the Student Success Center, will save her.

"Not only will it make the life of the student better, but also improve the college atmosphere,"Ritson said.

College services such as financial aid, registration, admissions and the book store are spread across campus in five buildings, she said. With the completion of the project, expected for fall 2009, those services will be in one spot along with campus clubs and police.

In fact, "one-stop shop," was the catch-phrase of the day.

Nick Neupauer, BC3 president, said the convenience, comfort and ease of the one, consolidated building improves service to the students.

"Today, we are strategically adding to the gem on Oak Hill," he said, referring to the former golf course that now makes up part of the campus.

John Kearney, vice president for student services, explained that the 34,000-square-foot building will lead to student success by making access to counselors, tutoring and support staff readily available.

He added that the design of the building, done by Burt Hill, will minimize the disturbance of the campus. The two-story building will be on an existing road that will be rerouted around campus.

"The result is a safe, vehicle-free center campus," Kearney said.

The ceremony, attended by a list of college notables like Tom Succop and Mary Phillips, ended with an official groundbreaking by Neupauer.

The general contract for the building was awarded to R.A. Glancy Sons of Gibsonia for $4.1 million. Construction is expected to begin later this month.

Festivities at the college continue today with the inauguration of Neupauer.