Columbia Basin College recently completed a remodel of its library at 2600 N. 20th Ave. in Pasco.
The library, originally built in 1964, was last remodeled in 1992.
The newly remodeled library offers about 22,000 square feet of space designed to accommodate community college students’ diverse study needs.
The library serves as a hub for student community and learning. The renovation features student support services like the student-centered information technology help desk and the college’s Writing Center, where students can receive help specific to their individual needs all in one place.
It also includes a 30-seat library instruction classroom/flex space for library events and a computer lab space.
It was substantially completed in June 2023.
Since then, library staff have been unboxing and organizing the roughly 30,000 books in its collection to get the space ready for a fall 2023 grand reopening. The first day of the fall quarter is Sept. 18.
The project’s total cost, including design, construction and furnishings, is about $3 million in state and local funding.
The contractor for the project is DGR Grant Construction of Richland. The project manager is Noah Wagner, and the project superintendent is Heath Brown.
The project was designed by Integrus Architecture of Spokane. The principal is Becky Barnhart, and the construction manager is Brian Piippo.
The revamped library will cater to the 21st century community college student who is juggling school, work and family. It will feature the college’s first designated family study area, and a newly created History of the College Archive.