SMITHFIELD – Johnston Community College President Dr. Vern L. Lindquist formally requested that County Commissioners approve a bond referendum in the amount of $85,000,000 for the purpose of constructing a new medical campus facility in Clayton and to begin necessary upgrades to the public safety facilities on JCC’s Smithfield campus.
The 120,000 square foot Clayton facility will accommodate a virtual hospital, classroom and lab space for nursing and other current healthcare and transfer programs, and provide room for expanded offerings in healthcare as well.
The public safety upgrades will help JCC serve fire, EMS, and basic law enforcement programs.
The need and scope for both projects have been identified through a comprehensive facilities master planning process led by LS3P, a national architectural and design planning firm.
Over the last 15 months, LS3P sought feedback and public comment from campus and community stakeholders to create JCC’s Master Plan with the help of a committee made up of college leadership, staff, faculty, students, trustees, and community members.
“We have known for years that we need more presence to serve the Western part of our county and this master planning process solidified the need for more space and better technology for our healthcare and public safety programs,” Dr. Lindquist said.
A countywide task force first engaged in talks with JCC about the creation of virtual hospital in 2008.
“With the opening of Wake Tech East in Wendell this week, which houses a Public Safety Simulation Complex, among many other offerings – it is crucial that we serve those areas of our county where we are already losing more than 1,200 Johnston County students each year,” Lindquist added.
