Butler community college opens Lawrence Co. facility

By Jon Moffett

Lawrence Crossing finalized agreements with three other schools.

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The Butler County Community College opened its newest facility in grand fashion.

The BC3 @ Lawrence Crossing had a ribbon-cutting ceremony to symbolize the building’s completion.

“Today, BC3 is taking a giant step in becoming a regional institution of higher learning,” said Dr. Nick Neupauer, president of the college.

Neupauer used an oversized pair of scissors, which seemed fitting for the large facility.

“The building is 25,000 square feet,” said Diane DeCarbo, Lawrence Crossing’s director, at Tuesday night’s event. “We have traditional classrooms that seat 25 to 30 students; we have a tiered classroom that seats 48; we have a conference room; we have a multipurpose room, as well as a science lab and a medical assistant/medical coding lab.”

The facility took less than a year to construct and cost between $2.5 million and $3 million, said Leo Golba, president of Leo Golba Enterprises.

“We started in November and finished up this June,” Golba said. “It was a great team effort, and [Butler] knew what they wanted and they knew exactly how they wanted it. They were great to work with.”

Nicole Burrelli, 19, of New Castle, a Butler student, said it was good to have such an impressive facility so close to home.

“It looks like it’s going to be really nice here,” Burrelli said.

Just as important as the facility is the new program that Lawrence Crossing is offering students. Along with the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Lawrence Crossing finalized partnership agreements with three other institutions of higher learning — Edinboro University, La Roche College and Point Park University. Representatives from the three schools and Neupauer signed agreements that will offer students of Lawrence Crossing other options. A similar agreement was made with Youngstown State University.

Neupauer and Susan Changnon, director of communications and marketing for Butler, announced the 2 + 2 plan. The program allows students to earn their two-year associate degree from Lawrence Crossing and the option of a four-year bachelor’s degree from Edinboro, La Roche or Point Park in a select field.

Students can earn the bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Edinboro, criminal justice from Point Park or psychology from La Roche. YSU has a one-year program for power plant technology.

“I think it will be a dynamic impact,” DeCarbo said of the partnerships. “Many times, especially adults who weren’t able to leave the area because of commitments here, weren’t able to continue their program. But now, there will be opportunities for them to stay right in their community and finish a four-year program.”

The Lawrence Crossing facility will have about 1,200 seats, and 510 students already have signed up for fall classes, which begin Aug. 25, Neupauer said.

For more information on the Lawrence Crossing facility or BC3, visit the Web site bc3.edu.