CC board meets with architect

Clarendon College Regents met with architectural firm Parkhill during a called meeting May 14 to discuss bringing the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a project that could cost the college about half a million dollars.

CC President Tex Buckhaults said the meeting with Parkhill stems from a December 2023 ADA survey of the Clarendon campus, which found “overwhelming” ADA issues on campus.

“It was a 48-page report that we have been working through since 2024,” Buckhaults said.

While some issues were able to be addressed in-house, other issues will require substantial investment and the input of architects to meet federal standards. Buckhault said the college chose to focus on the fine arts center first because of how important it is to the community with so many events held there each year.

Parkhill will charge CC about $180,000 to create plans for renovations and oversee the project. Work would actually begin after the first of the year.

The project will focus on making the building accessible, improving accessibility of restrooms, and creating accessibility to the stage from the auditorium. Breeze-ways on the east and west sides of the building would either be completely or partially enclosed with matching brick to allow for expansion of the foyer restrooms and installation of a lift in the auditorium to the stage.

Another lift near the current southeast auditorium exit, would give accessibility to a new exterior sidewalk along the eastside of the building where a large planter box currently runs towards the front entrance.

Buckhaults says the college will be able to pay for the work with money currently in reserves and says the project is expected to take about 30 weeks when it gets underway next year, which would impact college and high school graduation exercises.