For Immediate Release Contact: Patrick T. Nolan

For Immediate Release Contact: Patrick T. Nolan

June 18, 2007 Communications Specialist (Mgr.)

860-713-5790

or

www.ct.gov/dpw

Governor M. Jodi Rell To Join With Public Works And Three Rivers Community College For Groundbreaking In Norwich June 25, 2007

Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell, State Department of Public Works (DPW) Commissioner James T. Fleming, and Three Rivers Community College (TRCC ) President Grace S. Jones will host an official groundbreaking celebrating the start of construction of the new Three Rivers Community College campus in Norwich on June 25, 2007 (Monday) at 11 a.m.

The ceremony will take place at the TRCC’s Thames Valley Campus located at 574 New London Turnpike, Norwich. (Please see the attached directions.)

The $85.6 million project, encompassing 295,644 square feet of new and renovated space, is scheduled for completion for classes in January 2009, with additional site work to be finished one year later.

Speakers at the groundbreaking will include Governor Rell, Commissioner Fleming, President Jones, Dr. Louise S. Berry, chair, the Board of Trustees of the Community Colleges; Chancellor Marc S. Herzog, Connecticut Community Colleges, TRCC Dean Joseph S. Anderson, and the Rev. David L. Cannon, Board of Trustees of the Community Colleges.

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“This new consolidated campus for Three Rivers Community College is the state’s largest Public Works project in construction at the present time, with a total cost of $85.6 million. It will be a magnificent complex. It is much-needed, and will promote opportunities for the entire Southeastern Connecticut region in so many ways, well into the future,” said DPW Commissioner Fleming.

TRCC President Grace S. Jones stated, “The new and renovated space will greatly enhance our learning community, the educational programs and services we offer, and the realization of our mission to be the community’s college. After years of planning, the college’s two campuses [Mohegan and Thames Valley] will soon be united in the new college. Students will have access to the most up-to-date resources. The high quality of our academic programs will be evident to all who pass by.” The project will consolidate

The project will consolidate TRCC at the Thames Valley Campus on New London Turnpike in Norwich. TRCC was formed in 1992 when Mohegan Community College on Mahan Drive in Norwich was merged with Thames Valley State Technical College on New London Turnpike. At the Mohegan Campus, a major expansion and renovation project, also administered by DPW, is currently underway to create new facilities for Norwich Technical High School.

The TRCC project at the Thames Valley campus consists of 179,027 square feet of new space, 101,159 square feet of renovations.

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The project also includes an additional 15,458 square feet of new space for a separate Central Utility Plant.

The interior space of the new TRCC complex will feature state-of-the-art classrooms, science and computer laboratories, a library, bookstore, health and wellness center, cafeteria, daycare, and administrative offices. The exterior will consist of red brick, metal panels and glass.

The architects for the TRCC project are Fletcher-Thompson, Inc., of Shelton, CT, and Mitchell / Giurgola of New York, NY. The contractor is O & G Industries, Inc. of Torrington, CT; and the construction administrator is Skanska USA Building, Inc. of Milford, CT.

TRCC’s current student body totals more than 6,000 students. The College, which serves Southeastern Connecticut, is named in recognition of the region’s three primary rivers – the Shetucket, the Yantic and the Thames.

The state Department of Public Works is responsible for the design and construction of major capital building projects (except highways and bridges) for most state agencies, leasing and acquisitions statewide, and facility management, maintenance and security of state buildings in the greater Hartford area.

DPW Project Number: BI-CTC-401

Directions:

Three Rivers Community College

Thames Valley Campus

574 New London Turnpike

Norwich, CT 06360

From New London:
Follow Route 32 to I-395. Take Exit 80 east.**
(travel time approximately 15 minutes)
From Groton/Mystic:
Follow I-95 south to Route 32 - Norwich. Take I-395 north to Exit 80 east.**
(travel time approximately 25 minutes)
From Colchester and points West:
Follow Route 2 east until it merges with Route 32 south. Take Exit 28S onto I-395 south to Exit 80. Take a left at the end of the Exit ramp (Route 82 West Main Street).**
(travel time approximately 23 minutes)
From Jewett City and points North:
Take I-395 south to Exit 80. Take a left at the end of the Exit ramp (Route 82 West Main Street).**
(travel time approximately 20 minutes)
From Ledyard/Navy Sub Base area:
Follow 2A (Mohegan Pequot Bridge) to I-395 north. Take Exit 80 east.**
(travel time approximately 25 minutes)
From New Haven and points south:
Take I-95 north to I-395 north (exit 76). Take I-395 north to Exit 80 east.**
** From all points above:
Go five lights down to New London Turnpike. Turn right. Thames Valley campus is about .2 miles on left.