{"id":34130,"date":"2015-04-30T18:28:58","date_gmt":"2015-04-30T18:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=34130"},"modified":"2015-05-22T21:07:07","modified_gmt":"2015-05-22T21:07:07","slug":"acc-begins-work-on-highland-phase-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/2015\/04\/30\/acc-begins-work-on-highland-phase-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"ACC begins work on Highland Phase II"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mall closes to make way for region\u2019s first Workforce Innovation Center<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

On April 30 Highland Mall will close to the public, allowing Austin Community College (ACC) to begin pre-construction and abatement work that will transform the 44-year-old building into a regional workforce center.<\/p>\n

Supported by $152 million in voter-approved bond funding, Phase II of the Highland redevelopment comprises of 415,000 square feet and will expand campus capacity to an estimated 13,000 students.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Courtesy: O\u2019Connell Robertson; Pfeiffer\u00a0Partners<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s happening at Highland is a first in the nation. This is more than building a state-of-the-art facility\u2014 it\u2019s about building a community of strong partnerships,\u201d says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president\/CEO. \u201cWhat\u2019s happening here will expand learning and training opportunities and provide real-world experiences that benefit both students and area employers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Planned renovations will support training programs for high-demand careers in Central Texas.<\/p>\n

“Central Texas had 41,000 unfilled jobs in March. Up to 20 percent require an associate degree,\u201d says Drew Scheberle, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce senior vice president of Federal\/State Advocacy and Education\/Talent Development. \u201cPhase II will help local folks train for local, skilled, and good-paying jobs, reduce poverty, and further establish this region as the best place to grow a company.”<\/p>\n

Phase II timeline<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before design and construction begins, the building must undergo abatement to remove hazardous materials \u2013 standard procedure in older structures \u2013 and its roof will be replaced. Once pre-construction work and abatement is completed, construction will take approximately two years.<\/p>\n

\"Highland<\/a><\/p>\n

Courtesy: Elizabeth Day<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThis is good for our community,\u201d says Alim Mohammed, a Highland Mall tenant for more than 20 years. \u201cWhen I opened my restaurant in the food court, the mall was a busy place. Over the years, stores started to abandon the mall. The crowds disappeared. I worked hard every day just to survive. This will renew the neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mohammed is among fewer than a dozen remaining mall tenants who remain at Highland and will be moving May 15.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am optimistic about what\u2019s next,\u201d says Mohammed. \u201cI want to do what\u2019s good for the students and for the community. There are wonderful opportunities ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Phase II highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n

Highland Campus Phase II will support new competency-based and accelerated learning opportunities, internships and real-world experience, and cluster programming.<\/p>\n

Phase II will feature:<\/p>\n