Construction of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology’s lecture theatre and daycare is underway, on schedule, and on budget according to the institute’s vice president.

Construction crews are currently framing the two–story multi-purpose add on to the Institute’s South side and will begin the finishing stages in the middle of March.

“We’re almost a full conference centre now,” said NVIT vice president corporate services Ken Tourand.

The $2.7 million state-of-the-art facility will consist of a 142-seat lecture theatre, increased from 120 seats, and a daycare to accommodate NVIT students who have children.

The facility will be connected to the main campus with a bridge and will be wheelchair accessible with an elevator.

With an on-site food services centre and break-off rooms, the new addition could draw in corporate interests but, Tourand says NVIT’s priority is to make the institute better for its students.

“It’s primarily a lecture theatre, but it’s a multipurpose facility,’ says Tourand.

The lecture theatre, comprised of tiered seating, was expanded to more seating after architects discovered there was enough spacing between seats to condense them and fit in more. Another back row was also added.

NVIT will bring in acoustical engineers to set up sound and lighting and the facility will also be fully equipped for video conferencing.

The daycare centre, situated on the first floor, will accommodate up to 28 children and will be run by an independent not-for-profit group. The daycare will have a designated outdoor playground area.

“By June 1, we should be looking good,” says Tourand of the completion of the addition.

“It’s going to look as though it was built as part of the original building.”

Tourand says they will use similar cedar siding as that on the existing campus building.

The project is funded by three parties: the Province, which is providing $992,000, the federal government, which is providing $739,000, and NVIT with just over $1 million in funding.

The federal government’s two-year $2 billion plan to repair and expand research and educational facilities at Canadian post-secondary institutions is part of the Knowledge Infrastructure Program.