As it reaches 59 years of age, Calhoun Community College’s campus, one might say, is getting a facelift.

“We have either just completed or in the process of doing $44 million worth of construction renovation, which is the most we’ve ever done in the history of the college, which will probably not surprise you,” said Janet Kincherlow-Martin, director of public relations at Calhoun Community College.

A new math and science building is in the works near Chasteen Student Center and Harris Hall. This three story, 84,000 square foot building is scheduled for completion late this year or in early 2007. The building will house math and science classes and all administration will move into that building as well.

The Health Science building is another big construction project underway and will be completed for classes in fall 2006. The three story, 64,000 square foot building will house all allied health and nursing classes. Those two buildings, Health Science and Math and Science, will look more like traditional college classroom buildings, Kincherlow-Martin said.

The new Allied Health building will also allow for the nursing program to grow, Kincherlow-Martin said they had to turn away approximately 300 last year.

Along with the new, out will be some of the old. The old bookstore has already been torn down to make way for the math and science building and the older portion of Harris Hall, where most of the math and science courses are held now, will be torn down eventually.

The current Allied Health Building and Administration building will remain after the current occupants move, but Kincherlow-Martin is unsure what the buildings will be used for.

Construction/ renovation at Noble Russell Building was completed in December and now houses, 4CTV, Computer Information System classes, photography classes, networking and web design classes and a multi media and design lab. That completed phase three the Aerospace and Advanced Technology project.

“We have never had this much new construction at any one time,” Kincherlow-Martin said.

She said the intent of the new buildings is so that students can be provided with appropriate classrooms and labs and things like that. She said that a one-stop-shop student center has already been completed and houses all offices pertaining to student services and student affairs, with the exception of the bookstore. New ball fields are also among new construction.

A long-range master plan for the school could take 5-7 years to see the results from but Kincherlow-Martin said “You’re going to see a new Calhoun in the next two years.”

But for now students, faculty and staff must endure some growing pains.

Christy Clay, who has attended Calhoun since August, said the construction is causing a little bit of a problem for her. She said it seems to slow traffic down and there are big holes in the road where she said her car doesn’t need to be going in and out of.

“Parking spaces are very, very limited and they seem to be getting more limited,” Clay said.

Calhoun student Shellie Smith said that there has been a problem finding parking spaces.

Kincherlow-Martin said that they are down a few parking spaces because of the construction near the student center but that some spaces have been shifted due to some students taking classes in the aerospace building.

She said there are no designated parking spaces for anyone, not even the president.