FORKS — Renovation of an expanded facility for Peninsula College’s Forks branch is expected to begin in September.
The project in what once housed the Bank of America branch in Forks, which is at 481 S. Forks Ave., is now in the design phase, according to Phyllis Van Holland, college spokeswoman.
The new site will have 12,452 square feet, compared with the 8,000 at the current site at 71 S. Forks Ave., with more parking space.
It is expected to be opened for classes in early 2014.
The new site will have five classrooms, a learning center with study space, a student gathering space, a reception and advising and faculty office spaces, said Deborah Frazier, vice president of administrative services at Peninsula College.
The building also will include a multiuse space that will be available as a resource for community and cultural events for the region.
Peninsula College President Luke Robins and Carrol Lunsford of the real estate firm of Lunsford and Associates in Forks exchanged keys Tuesday — a move that marked the end of a several-year process in the college’s search for an expanded educational center to serve residents of Forks and the West End, Van Holland said.
Students currently can earn associate degrees entirely in Forks and take course offerings in academic transfer, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education.
Frazier also said the college will retain as much of the current interior of the building as possible and plans very few changes to the exterior.
During the renovation process, the $1,307,114 the college received in grant funding in June from the state Department of Commerce specifically for the Forks Extension will be used for energy management systems that allow for optimal energy efficiency, Van Holland said.
McKinstry of Seattle is the contractor/ESCO, or energy service company.
Energy Performance Contracting is being used to complete the project.
Peninsula College is based in Port Angeles and has branches in Port Townsend and Forks.
For more information about the college, visit www.pencol.edu.
