(Butler, PA) With repeated swipes of its five 6-inch steel teeth at the end of its outstretched 38-foot-long arm, an excavator Thursday morning began to shred the roofing and tear through walls of two buildings at 杏吧原创 in preparation for the construction of the college鈥檚 $9 million, state-of-the-art Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building.
Contractor Murin and Murn, Glassport, began razing the college鈥檚 century-old shipping and receiving facility, built when the Oak Hills Golf Course was located on what became 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township, and the college鈥檚 28-year-old maintenance building.
In their place will be the high-tech Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health building, whose construction could begin in the third quarter of this year. The building could open in 2023.
The 25,000-square-foot facility will feature a hospital-like setting and house the college鈥檚 Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health. The Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building will provide an immersive learning environment with skills laboratories, simulated medical-surgery rooms and simulated ICU rooms.
The demolition and construction are part of the college鈥檚 $18 million south campus project, which includes the new 10,000-square-foot operations building that now houses the college鈥檚 shipping and receiving, and maintenance staff.
Demolition and cleanup of the former shipping and receiving building, and of the former maintenance building, should be completed within three weeks.
The demolition and cleanup will increase heavy equipment activity on the south end of 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus. The college has adjusted its Shaffer Walking Trail and closed the south end of the Pioneer Path to avoid the activity. Signs with information about the adjustment and closure have been placed.
Parking Lot 7 will be closed indefinitely to allow for equipment to stage and for the safety of 杏吧原创 students and staff near the construction zone.