By LACEY PETERSON

The Union Democrat

Contracts for two bond-funded projects at Columbia College will go out to bid soon and construction could begin as early as March.

The Fire Science Center will be moved into portables on Symons Field as soon as weather permits and the public safety center will operate there until construction is completed in the upgrade of the existing building.

That project, estimated to cost $2.8 million, was recently approved by the Division of the State Architect. Construction will start in March, said Connie Mical, Columbia College chief operations officer.

"This is going to be a very eventful year for us," Mical said.

The Madrone Building modernization was also approved by the DSA and college officials hope to put it out to bid "very soon" and break ground by the end of March or beginning of April.

The crowded building will be expanded to accommodate a welding lab and the auto shop. The body shop will remain in the existing building. The project will cost an estimated $3.4 million.

The Child Development Center plans have been sent to DSA for approval and should be returned by April or May, Mical said. It can take some time for approval by the state. "This is the part we can't really control."

The college hopes to break ground on the 13,517 square-foot complex in late June to early July. The project's budget is $9.1 million.

"Things are really moving," Mical said.

The Public Safety Center, the Madrone building and the Child Development Center were all designed closer to residential construction standards.

"We were hoping it will provide a better opportunity to allow local contractors to bid on the projects," Mical said.

Both the Child Development Center and the Science Natural Resources building are designed for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, meaning the buildings will be energy efficient and environmentally "friendly."

The science building is still in the design phase and is a very complex building, Mical said. The project has a $22.4 million budget.

"It is moving really well through design. We're real pleased with how the design is working out with this building as well," she said.

The projects will be paid for by Measure E, a $326 million bond issue approved by Yosemite Community College District voters in November 2004.

Measure E is a general obligation bond for the repair, upgrade and new construction of facilities at Columbia College and Modesto Junior College.