FLORENCE, Ore. — Lane Community College (LCC) is excited to announce the grand opening of the newly renovated Florence Center at 3149 Oak Street in Florence, marking a significant milestone in the institution's commitment to enhance educational facilities in Western Lane County. A grand opening ceremony will be held Tuesday, June 13, at 5:00 p.m.
Following a successful bond measure in May 2020, LCC embarked on a series of extensive renovations to the Florence Center. The improvements, part of the college's 2020 Master Plan, aim to significantly modernize the facility, expanding educational opportunities and strengthening its ability to serve the community.
The $9.5 million project includes seismic retrofitting, enhanced safety and security measures, modernized classroom technology, and upgraded labs and teaching spaces to support Science, Math, Arts, and Engineering classes. The construction, which began in May 2022, included the expert Consultant Team from Woofter Bolch Architecture and Lease Crutcher Lewis Construction.
Tuesday's grand opening event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony facilitated by the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. LCC President, Dr. Stephanie Bulger, and Florence Mayor Rob Ward will provide brief remarks. The event will also feature scholarship announcements from local organizations and the LCC Foundation.
"The Florence Center has a rich history of serving the educational and training needs of Western Lane County. This renovation represents our ongoing commitment to providing quality, accessible education," said Dr. Stephanie Bulger, President of LCC. "We're proud to open our doors to the next generation of learners in this modern, state-of-the-art facility."
Following the ceremony, guests are invited for a tour of the newly renovated center. Refreshments and appetizers will be served, providing a festive environment for community members to engage and learn more about the new facility.
Overflow parking is available, courtesy of Siuslaw High School, located just south of the Lane campus.
Lane Community College educates over 15,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $850 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 13,000 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.