SCENE THE
Fall Issue 2
October 6, 2017
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St. Louis Community College at Forest Park
College to break ground on health center A and B towers will be demolished By Timothy Bold The Scene staff The look of the 50-year-old Forest Park campus will change dramatically over the next three years. Plans call for demolition of A and B towers and construction of a new Center for Nursing and Health Sciences to meet a growing demand for workers in health-related fields. “The footprint of the A and B towers will become green space,” said Forest Park Provost Larry Johnson. “… The new facility will be state-of-the art with resources that will give our students an edge in the job marPittman ket.” In January, the St. Louis Community College board of directors hired KAI Design & Build architectural firm to design the four-story, 96,000-square-foot center, which will house nursing, dental hygiene and eight other health-related programs. The center will be located along Oakland Avenue, just north of where A and B towers are today. It will be made mostly of glass with brick accents. Groundbreaking is scheduled for next March, followed by the demolition of A and B towers in 2019. The entire project is
Rendering by KAI Design & Build
The new Center for Nursing and Health Sciences is shown at left in this artist’s rendering of what the east end of the Forest Park campus will look like in three years. expected to cost $39 million. “We’re selling the 300 S. Broadway building, and bonds are already in place for the financing of the (new center),” said STLCC Chancellor Jeff Pittman. The Broadway building, commonly known as the Cosand Center, serves as STLCC district headquarters, across the street from Busch Stadium. Pittman will move to the Forest Park campus with an office on the fourth floor of the new center. The Center for Nursing and Health Sciences is part of a “comprehensive, strategic plan” that the college has developed since he became chancellor in 2015. “The development process was very
participatory in nature, as we conducted 23 community forums to listen to stakeholder needs and also received over 1,200 survey responses from stakeholders discussing the education and workforce needs of the region,” Pittman said. The Forest Park campus opened in 1967. It was designed by award-winning architects Harry Weese and his brother, Ben Weese, with collaboration from renowned landscape architect Dan Kiley, who also designed the original Gateway Arch grounds. Not everyone is happy about upcoming
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Photo by Miles Glixman
Forest Park Provost Larry Johnson stands in front of the new Wall of Inspiration in the second-floor lobby of the Student Center, outside his office. He got the idea from Angelic Cole, associate professor in business, and chose the stenciled words with a purpose in mind. “When you look at the wall, it’s meant to remind everyone of our goals at Forest Park daily,” he said.
Toastmasters may come to Forest Park By Joshua Phelps The Scene staff Looking to improve your public-speaking skills? Forest Park faculty and staff are trying to start a Toastmasters Club on campus. It would be affiliated with Toastmasters International, a 93-year-old organization with 16,400 clubs in 141 countries. “We provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop com- Mokriakow munication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth,” according to its website. Three faculty members and Jeffries one representative of St. Louis Toastmasters District 8 showed up at the first meeting on Sept. 22, although seven people have signed up. Eventually, they hope to add students. Twenty members are needed to officially charter with the national organization. “Toastmasters (would allow students) to continue building that skillset outside of the college itself,” said Kat Mokriakow, District 8 director. “They can build upon it and grow.” Toastmasters membership dues are $90 a year ($45 every six months) after people pay a $20 joining fee that covers the cost of the organization’s manual. “If you’re going to a seminar, you’re paying thousands of dollars,” Mokriakow said. “This is just $90 a year. It’s very low-cost. The biggest benefit is you’re actually practicing (public speaking).” At the first Forest Park meeting, members shared their personal stories, gave mini speeches and reviewed Toastmasters goals and values. At future meetings, activities will include structured speeches lasting five to seven minutes and
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