Hawkeye Community College child care center moving to campus, expanding

March 25--WATERLOO -- Hawkeye Community College's longtime Childhood Development Center is moving across Orange Road and expanding.

The college's Board of Trustees on Tuesday awarded a $617,800 contract to Woodruff Construction for renovations to four upper level classrooms in the northwest corner of Black Hawk Hall. It's one of three contracts approved by trustees for campus remodeling and improvements. Work will get underway on the projects in April or May and be finished in August.

The Waterloo company submitted the lowest of four bids on the project. Other bids ranged from $634,600 to $651,000. The projected total cost is $651,688, which includes a 6 percent architectural fee and $50,000 in contingencies. The original estimated total cost was $700,000.

Currently, the child care center is located off campus south of Orange Road at 6006 Stardust Lane in a 2,448-square-foot facility built in 1993. It will move into a 4,500-square-foot space that now contains interior design classrooms and a computer lab. The area is available because the program is ending after spring semester.

Along with four age-appropriate classrooms, the center will have a kitchen, office space and restrooms. There will be space to enroll nearly 50 children, up from a little more than 30 now.

The new facility will begin serving children from the early infant stage to 18 months old and increase the space available for toddlers and other preschoolers.

Jane Bradley, vice president of academic affairs, noted the new location is a plus for Hawkeye's early childhood education students involved with the program.

"They'll be able to do more of a drop in and out because it's more accessible," she said.

The project is being made possible by a $235,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Head Start.

"We're seeking additional local grant funding," said Holly Johnson, executive director of the HCC Foundation, along with private fundraising, "which will start very, very shortly." Any remaining expense will be paid for with facilities and maintenance levy funds.

No decision has been made about the use of the current child care building. "We're exploring our options with that facility," said Dan Gillen, vice president of administration and finance.

Two other contracts approved by the board will be paid for solely with facilities and maintenance levy funds.

Trustees awarded a $431,000 contract to Larson Construction for waterproofing portions of Black Hawk Hall and storm sewer replacement.

The Independence company was the lowest of three bidders on the project. Actual total costs -- including fees and contingencies -- are projected at $456,860, above the $390,000 estimate.

Waterproofing is deteriorating on some of the original hall, built in 1974.

A contract for $213,733 was awarded to Kidder Construction for remodeling of restrooms on both levels of Hawkeye Center. The Waterloo company was the lowest of six bidders on the project.

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