Bates Advanced Technology Center nears completion

A new technology center for Bates Technical College, under construction for some 16 months, is set to open in late September, the Tacoma-based technical school said Wednesday.

The 53,000-square-foot, $23 million building at South 19th and Trafton streets will house the college’s engineering, information technology and digital media programs.

While the building will be ready for occupancy early this fall, the first classes won’t begin in the new structure until the school’s winter quarter in early January, said Chelsea Lindquist, a Bates spokeswoman.

That will allow time for faculty members to move in and for a shakedown trial of some of the building’s technical features.

The new structure is adjacent to the school’s KTBC public television studios. The college purchased the property from KSTW television in 2001.

The structure also will include meeting space for events, trade shows and conferences. Its design will meet the gold certification standard of the United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, said the school. The structure is the first new building for Bates since 2006.

This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 6:52 AM with the headline "Bates Advanced Technology Center nears completion."