LEWISTON, Idaho – Supply chain delays related to the coronavirus pandemic have impacted the completion date of the Schweitzer Career & Technical Education Center, Lewis-Clark State College administrators announced on Monday.
The Idaho Division of Public Works recently accepted the contractor’s request for an extension. The COVID-19-related delay means the building will not be able to open in time for classes this fall, as originally intended.
“Supply chain delays resulting from the pandemic have proved insurmountable,” LC State President Cynthia Pemberton said. “The building will not be substantially complete and will not be ready for classes by the start of school in August. Because of this, while we are still anticipating our ribbon cutting event in late October, we will plan to officially move into the building between Thanksgiving and January and launch its full occupancy and use with the spring 2021 semester.”
The Schweitzer CTE Center is being built in the Lewiston Orchards and will be a regional CTE center, serving the needs of students from LC State, neighboring Lewiston High School, and others throughout the region. The facility will house most of the college’s Technical & Industrial Division programs including auto mechanics technology, CNC machining technology, information technology, engineering technology, industrial electronics technology, and heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) technology.
“I want to personally thank and commend all who worked so tirelessly to try and avoid having us land in this place,” said Pemberton. “But, we are where we are, and will adapt and plan for spring 2021!”