Cork Nelson cuts studs for second story walls of Simpson Hall.

— Photographs by Jordan Phillips

Northwest College’s Simpson Hall construction is well underway with the second floor in the framing process and the first floor with beginning plumbing.
Both NWC Vice President of Administrative Affairs Kim Mills, and Brian Gilbriath, construction manager, said that the construction is on schedule. They also mentioned that the two cold weeks in December caused a small setback, but recent weather has allowed them to get back on track.
The framing on first floor is finished and second floor will be finished around Monday or Tuesday of next week, said Mills. He said that it is too early to make any other assumptions. The construction is “on schedule and on budget,” said Mills
Unfortunately some changes have been made to the original plan. No parking lot extensions will be added for next year. Mills said that because the general bid went higher than expected a decision was made to not expand the two existing lots next to Cody Hall and Ashley Hall so far. The students who will be living in Cody and Simpson next year will have to share a lot as well as parts of the Ashley lot.
Mills said that he would rather lose a sidewalk or a tree than take anything away from the building.
Gilbraith said that the main plumbing has been run to the building for heating and domestic water. Electricity work will possibly start in the beginning of February.
The first of February brings a busy month for that construction companies, said Gilbraith. Along with plumbing and electric work, the sprinkler systems will be installed, masonry will be added to the exterior and roofing will start in the beginning to the middle of the month. Before the brick can be placed, some of the first floor windows will have to be installed. After the brick is complete, the exterior insulation finish system (EIFS) can be added to the parts of the building without brick. Gilbraith said that the EIFS is sort of a stucco type of finish.
Gilbraith is optimistic, with the good weather lately, that construction will stay on schedule.