MORE THAN BRICKS AND MORTAR

By Marty Baker

This has been a most active year at Hobart Institute of Welding Technology.  In the spring, we celebrated our 75^th anniversary.  A weekend long celebration consumed many hours of planning time on the part of the staff, who appreciated all of our friends who came to celebrate with us. 

The summer was filled with a large remodeling project to upgrade our facility to include three new classrooms, a new bookstore, and a new library.  The ultimate goal was to make the area more accessible and user-friendly for our students.  I can relate this project to you first-hand, since I was designated by management as the on-site construction supervisor.  This was a new experience for me and I was fortunate to be working with a good architect and general contractor with a pleasant personality who never laughed (at least not to my face!) at my questions as I sought to understand the terms and techniques being used throughout the construction project. 

Walls were knocked down and ceilings were dismantled to make way for new structures.  After about 10 days, we began to see framing erected that would delineate our new spaces.  As we proceeded through the project some unexpected items surfaced and a few change orders were necessary.  Inspections, for the most part, went smoothly while a few generated some additional changes as we brought all aspects of the area up to current codes with safety in mind. 

I have a newfound respect for the people working on construction projects!  I am noted for being a perfectionist and know that it is not easy working for me!  Mostly the crew on the jobsite kept smiling and tolerated my questions and concerns.  I think they were grateful to have a cool indoor project while some of their counterparts worked in the hot sun! 

New ductwork for the ventilation and air conditioning was installed.  As walls were erected and ceilings appeared, new lighting was installed.  Increased insulation, making for a quiet place for students to relax between classes while helping to maintain temperature control, was placed above the ceilings.  Paint in subtle, very light blue was added throughout and serviceable, multi-colored carpet was selected to cover the floors.  Metal-framed glass windows were set in place, providing an open-spaced and very modern appearance for the adjoining areas.  All new bookstore, library and office furniture was installed to make the areas more efficient places to work for students and staff.   

The ideal location between the skill and the technical class areas provides easy access for all students.  Upgraded computers and wireless Internet connectivity in the student job center increases speed and job search capabilities for the students. 

As autumn approached and the leaves on the trees turned golden colors, new landscaping was added to the front of the building, enhancing the appearance of the neighborhood.  The coming year will bring more enhancements to our facility as we continue to upgrade to the benefit of our students.