Northwestern presents plans for Woodward facility

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 6, 2006

NORTHWESTERN PRESENTS PLANS FOR WOODWARD FACILITY

Northwestern Oklahoma State University plans to begin construction next month on a 19,905 square foot general classroom and office building that will house the university’s operations in Woodward, university officials said in a plan outlined today.

Exterior and interior drawings, along with a floor plan of the building, were presented to members of an advisory committee and other community members. The advisory committee worked with Northwestern in developing the plans.

“It’s an absolutely beautiful facility that will be a symbol of pride for Northwestern and for Woodward and the surrounding area,” said Dr. Janet Cunningham, president of Northwestern. “We sought value, form and function, and I believe we have all three elements in this facility.”

Easley Associates of Enid is providing architectural services for the project. Northwestern is expected to spend $2.5 million on the facility and will soon begin soliciting bids from contractors.

The building will feature 11 classrooms, all equipped to function as a traditional or distance learning classroom, a science laboratory, computer laboratory, library, bookstore, commons area, conference room and areas for administrative offices and faculty.

Cunningham announced that Northwestern plans to break ground on the facility during ceremonies on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the construction site located on 34th Street, just west of Experiment Lake.

“That day will be a celebration that has been 10 years in the making,” she said.

Northwestern has offered classes in Woodward for more than 30 years, but the partnership between the university and the city was cemented in 1996 when the Oklahoma Legislature authorized Northwestern to establish campuses in Woodward and Enid.

Classes were first held at the High Plains Institute of Technology, but Northwestern quickly outgrew the space provided, moving to its current location in the First American Bank building in May 2002. Northwestern also has held classes at Woodward High School for many years.

Plans for a permanent campus building were quickly established following the beginning of classes in 1996. Former area state representatives Elmer Maddux and Clay Pope, and current state senator Owen Laughlin secured funding for the project in 2000 as part of a statewide bond issue. That bond issue was later ruled unconstitutional by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Another bond issue approved in 2005 provided Northwestern with $6.8 million for three projects, including construction of the Woodward facility.

Northwestern secured the land for the project in November 2005 through a 100-year lease with Oklahoma State University, thanks in large part to efforts of the Woodward Industrial Foundation and Rep. Jeff Hickman.

-NW-