Governor Quinn Announces $14.5 Million to Renovate Triton College Technology Building

RIVER GROVE – Governor Pat Quinn today announced an investment of $14.5 million to renovate the Technology Building at Triton College in River Grove. Funded primarily by his Illinois Jobs Now! capital program, the project is part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to creating jobs and driving Illinois’ economy forward.

“Triton College continues to train students for in-demand careers, and the Technology Building will be transformed into a Health and Sciences Building, which is an integral part of what the school does,” Governor Quinn said. “These improvements will make the building more usable while creating a number of construction jobs, which will drive the local economy forward.”

“We are renovating our Technology Building with our students’ education in mind,” said Dr. Doug Olson, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs at Triton College. “As an institution committed to student success, we aim to provide our students with a state-of-the-art facility that is conducive to their education and prepares them for the workforce. We appreciate the Governor’s support in providing our students with the utmost educational experience.”

The project includes a complete renovation of the existing two-story building and an addition to create a new 70,800-square-foot Health and Sciences Building. Renovation plans include site work and site utilities, as well as the repair of the existing brick masonry and the infill of existing high-bay spaces. Much of the building’s features will be new: interior partitions and finishes, interior and exterior doors, heating and cooling systems, ventilation systems, building controls, plumbing systems, electrical systems and technology systems. The George Sollitt Construction Company of Wood Dale was the lowest of ten firms bidding on the project with a quote of $14,589,000. Triton College is funding $6.3 million of the total project cost. The construction project will be managed by the Illinois Capital Development Board.

The building will house such educational programs as nursing, surgical technology, diagnostic medical sonography, nuclear medicine, ophthalmology, as well as provide classrooms for some biology and chemistry courses. It will include such features as a surgical technology and dissection lab, collaborative learning spaces, and a computer commons area with Wi-Fi capability.

“Investing in education is critical to the future success of our state,” State Representative Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) said. “In addition to the jobs created for the project, this will enhance student’s access to quality careers in the health care field, and send a signal to employers that our area is developing a talented, dedicated workforce.”

Triton College is one of the nation’s premier two-year institutions of higher education dedicated to student success. Located 14 miles from downtown Chicago in River Grove, the school offers close to 100 degree and certificate programs at its 100-acre campus that features a comfortable, friendly and diverse atmosphere. For more information about Triton College, visit triton.edu.

The Triton College project is part of Governor Quinn’s $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! program, which will support more than 439,000 jobs over six years. Illinois Jobs Now! is the largest capital construction program in Illinois history, and is one of the largest capital construction programs in the nation.