College's REACH building on schedule and budget, officials say

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Less than a year after breaking ground, officials with Confederation College say a new medical building is on track to be completed by its deadline next spring.

The Regional Education Alliance for Community Health building was first announced last October. Since then, the 47,000-square foot building has been going up quickly said Ron Vopni, facilities director for Confederation College.

The college hopes to have the exterior finished before winter so interior construction can begin Vopni said. Because funding has come from the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, REACH has to be completed by March 31, 2011 he said.

"We’re on schedule and we’re on budget so it’s been really good so far for us and everything looks good going forward," said Vopni.

The $13-million building will house programs for the college’s health and community services program. With record enrollment at 1,000 students, health and community services dean Kathleen Lynch said the space was necessary to fit all of the programs in her department. Because the college is 40-years-old, Lynch said REACH will also help students with new technology not currently found at the college.

"We need state of the art technology and simulation in order to provide the necessary education for students so they can compete once they graduate," she said. "We needed more space…and we needed new space as well."

The building will also feature a dental clinic and labs for the college’s medical assistant program among other new facilities Lynch said.