Mike Watson, architect with Bowers, Ellis & Watson of Asheville, illustrated where Southwestern Community College's new Macon Center will be located on Siler Road near the intersection of U.S. 64 and U.S. 441.

From beginnings in 1974 of a small office in the courtroom, director Norman Gilbert and one secretary, Southwestern Community College’s presence in Macon County has grown to soon include a technologically-advanced $4.9 million facility on a 31-acre campus.

During a presentation to county leaders Monday, Jan. 10, Mike Watson, architect with Bowers, Ellis & Watson of Asheville, revealed the latest plans for the new building that will be located on Siler Road near the intersection of U.S. 64 and U.S. 441. The 27,600 square-foot facility will be built on a knoll overlooking the Little Tennessee River and will represent the region with its timbers and rock work.

Mike Watson, architect with Bowers, Ellis & Watson of Asheville, illustrated where Southwestern Community College's new Macon Center will be located on Siler Road near the intersection of U.S. 64 and U.S. 441.

“One of our goals is to blend in and nestle in that site on the hillside,” Watson said of the campus that is being developed with sensitivity to the culture and environment. Construction is anticipated to begin in March, with operations to commence summer 2006. Bids are expected to be let next month. Funding is through $2.9 million in 2000 state bond funds, matched by $2 million from Macon County, which can include in-kind matching, such as the property they deeded to SCC.

Watson and SCC President Cecil Groves call the two-story building “future perfect” since it will be built with flexibility to adapt to future needs.

“We are using a raised floor with a two-foot space underneath that will house the electrical data and communication system,” Watson said. “Every room in the building will be wired so if a classroom needs to be rearranged, all you have to do is remove a couple of carpet squares to hook into the system.”

Initial plans call for four classrooms, three computer laboratories, a science laboratory and lounge on the ground floor with a classroom, learning assistance center, two conference rooms, offices, a reception area, catering kitchen and large conference room on the first floor.
The sturdy, sound-proof, snap-together walls are also state-of-the art and fully adaptable to different teaching and methodology, Watson said.

“The layout can be changed without any demolition or expensive construction,” Watson said. “All you need is a screwdriver.”

The building, which will share a driveway with the new Macon County Library, is also designed for expansion on the east side, he said.

“We’ve designed the building with a friendly focus and with the students in mind,” Watson told the group. “The center focus is the student lounge, which we have been calling the Cyber Café.”

BalsamWest Fiber NET’s $10 million high-speed fiber optic network will surround the campus linking it to Jackson and Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary.

“We’re going to have the connections,” Groves said. “Not only is our building going to be advanced, but so is our infrastructure. The new campus will provide fully interactive learning and teleconferencing. Some of our first links will be to all the public schools in a three-county region; our expansion capabilities are limitless.”

Staff, faculty and resources from SCC’s two current sites in Macon County, the Business and Industry Training Center and the Small Business Center, will be consolidated at the new campus. Within four miles from the new campus is the Public Safety Training Complex, which includes the Driver Training Range, Burn Building and Public Safety Training Center. These operations primarily support Fire, Rescue and Law Enforcement, both locally and regionally, and would continue to operate from current locations.

Proposed areas of study/curriculum include pre-health science track, college transfer-AA degree, criminal justice - AAS degree, early childhood - AAS degree, business administration - AAS degree, information systems - AAS degree, real estate- certificate, and developmental education course work (math, reading, and English).

In addition to the Small Business and Business and Industry Training Centers, continuing education will include basic skills literacy, health science, arts and crafts and general courses.

“Historically, Macon County has had a significant base of students and there is an employment base for them once they complete the programs,” Gene Couch, SCC’s vice president for instructional services, explained the selections.

A Learning Assistance Center providing supplemental instruction, writing and other subject area assistance, including tutoring is also planned.

“One of our goals is to help students complete the first two years of their four-year degree in Franklin before transferring to a university,” said Couch. “Given the rapidly increasing tuition costs in higher education, the ability to obtain the first two years of college at home offers parents and students enormous savings, both in terms of cost and time.”

According to Dwight Wiggins, SCC’s vice president for extension education and education development, the college currently has 11 full-time employees in Macon County and nine Gear Up staff members who serve the public schools. An additional seven employees will eventually be located at the new center.

The college will partner with the Macon County Library, said Groves, who added, “Southwestern Community College enjoys a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with the Fontana Regional Library System. As a result, we are very pleased and excited about the location of the new county library adjacent to our campus where resources and services can be shared. This offers the citizens of Macon County the best possible use of their tax dollars, allowing for the maximum benefit to the public.

“Southwestern has been planning a new Macon Campus since the late 1990s - the need is there,” said Groves, expressing appreciation to the local, community, county and business leaders for their “active support and encouragement. Macon County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state, the third fastest west of Charlotte. Our new campus will represent the culmination of a community-based effort to provide the citizens of Macon County with 21st century educational opportunities.”