Board OKs plans for new MTI campus

BRADENTON — The Manatee County school board on Monday night approved Phase 1 design plans for Manatee Technical Institutes new campus.

The state-of-the-art, 209,369-square-foot building to be constructed off State Road 70 East will replace its 34th Street West campus and is expected to be open in 2013.

“We’re ready to go to our next step,” district Director of Construction Services Sheridan Dowling told school board mem- bers before they unanimous- ly approved the design plans.

A suggested timeline of the more than $41 million project shows construction starting in February and being substantially completed by December 2012.

The project architect is Fawley Bryant Architects Inc. and its construction manager is H.C. Beck Ltd.

“This is a very happy day,” school board Chairwoman Jane Pfeilsticker said following the board’s vote.

The new MTI campus will have 860 student stations, 573 asphalt parking spaces and 151 grass parking spaces, as previously reported in the Herald.

Among programs hosted at the campus would be culinary, automotive, marine technology, cosmetology, construction, heating and air conditioning, web design and more. The facility would include an auditorium, media center, book store and open multipurpose/dining room.

The school’s main campus is on 34th Street West. Its public safety and health care classes are slated to remain at the Lakewood Ranch campus.

Renovation of the 34th Street campus would be difficult because of possible asbestos contamination, and the age of the electrical and plumbing systems, school leaders have said.

Access to the new campus would be off S.R. 70 and off Caruso Road and 66th Street East.

Still undecided is what to do with a 10-acre parcel on the corner of S.R. 70 and Caruso Road. That parcel could be used for campus expansion or commercial use in the future.

Also undecided is what happens to the existing 34th Street West property.

School board members Monday also approved the Manatee Technical Institute 2010-11 tuition and fee schedule. It goes into effect on July 1.

To view the schedule visit http://www. manatee.k12.fl.us/ites/agenda/June%2028,%202010%20-%20 Regular%20Meeting%20-%20UPDATED%206-28-10%20on%20Monday,%20June%2028,%202010/EBB064B3-BDE4-45FA-AF35-125EF7A67AE6.pdf.