CNMI officials led by Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang joined Northern Marianas College officials and project partners to commemorate the topping out of NMC’s new Student Center building on Tuesday.
NMC photo
(NMC) — Northern Marianas College on Tuesday, March 4, marked an important milestone with NMC officials, CNMI leaders, and project team members commemorating the topping-out of the construction process for NMC’s new Student Center building.
A “topping out” ceremony is traditionally held when the last beam or slab is placed or poured on a building. For the NMC Student Center, the final 164 cubic yards of concrete was poured to complete its roof.
Joining NMC Board of Regents Chair Charles Cepeda and NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD in placing a plaque commemorating the topping out were Core Tech International representatives, Gov. Arnold Palacios, Lt. Gov. David Apatang, House Speaker Edmund Villagomez, Rep. Roy Ada, Senate President Dennis Mendiola, Sen. Ronnie Calvo, NMC Foundation Board Member Jay Santos, FEMA Public Assistance Office Patrick Guerrero, CNMI Governor’s Office Capital Improvement Projects representative Nerissa Benavente, and representatives from architectural and engineering firms TRMA and GHD.
The plaque “commemorates the enduring Proa Spirit and expresses gratitude to all who persisted and overcame unprecedented challenges to make the idea of Northern Marianas College’s Student Center not only a reality but, more importantly, a beacon of hope, resilience, and strength for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.”
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, with additional funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Department of the Interior-Office of Insular Affairs, the $31 million NMC Student Center is a three-story, 38,365-square-foot facility. It will house a double-height dining/multi-purpose hall; offices for admissions and records, financial aid, and career services; a bookstore; CNMI archives; lounges; food vendor stalls; a library; a tech lounge; counseling and tutoring centers; a testing center; meeting rooms; a student activities and leadership office; and an outdoor terrace.
Additionally, the new student center will feature a performance lawn integrated with the campus quad.
“This is concrete proof of what we can accomplish when we work together to sail through all the storms, both literal and figurative, that have hit us,” said NMC President Deleon Guerrero. “Especially during these turbulent times, today’s ceremony is a reminder and a reaffirmation of our commitment to do all that we can for our community, for our college, and most importantly, for our students.”
“We started this project with nothing but an idea, and today, it is the largest public building under construction in the entire CNMI,” said Frankie Eliptico, NMC vice president for administration and advancement. “So today is not just the celebration of a milestone, but it is proof that vision, determination, and sheer grit can turn great ideas into amazing realities.”
Construction of the student center began in August 2023 and is expected to be completed later this year. The college is also pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for its student center. This certification promotes green building practices that are environmentally friendly, socially beneficial, and cost-efficient.
NMC is also set to break ground on additional facilities this year. These include two classroom buildings, a workforce development and training center, and a Center for Research and Extension Development that will house NMC’s Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services.
