Refurbished building and new furnishing greeted students for the fall 2008 semester
–By Julie Zimmer, Kirkwood News Service
Students returning Aug. 19 to the Vinton Kirkwood Center for the fall semester didn’t see a trace of flood damage outside the building. Inside they found what Center Director Mindy Thornton called “the silver lining.” Everything is new with the exception of rescued files, technology, and a few pieces of furniture and artwork.
After 18 inches of water from the nearby Cedar River tore through the building in June, the interior has been gutted and sanitized. Walls were replaced and painted in tones of tan, warm brown and sand, with black accents; flooring (both the former familiar carpet and a surprise layer of older tile underneath) replaced with carpet tiles in the new color scheme; a new wall separates the student lounge kitchenette from the neighboring classroom and a new advising center partitions off a corner opposite the reception desk in the front lobby.
Center staff and maintenance staff from the main campus moved equipment back into the building the last few days of July, according to Center Assistant/Continuing Education Coordinator Rachel Markland. Center operations and staff were relocated to the Vinton-Shellsburg middle school for nearly six weeks after the June 9 flood.
“We started on a Friday and by Monday they pretty much had everything moved back,” Markland said. “They went through the semi truck [of rescued files and some furnishings] to see what was usable. We were able to save a lot more than we thought, mostly important files. A lot of what we lost was furniture that can be replaced.”
Markland said using a regular phone instead of cell phones, and being back at her post in the front lobby, were reassuring developments.
Information Technology staff from the main Cedar Rapids campus completed installations the Friday before classes began. Gardner said KTS (Kirkwood Telecommunications Services) two-way audiovisual classrooms were ready also.
The center staff used folding chairs and tables to register students for fall semester. Center Assistant Pat Gardner said the traffic flow has been normal but registration numbers won’t be ready until the end of the month.
Gardner said students started the semester sitting in 50 temporary chairs. Work surfaces were in place before classes started and new chairs are expected soon.
“Some furniture is still coming in and are working with Kirkwood facilities staff to replace what we lost,” Gardner said, “We are still discovering needs, like an overhead projector for instructors. Sometimes you don’t think about what you lost until you need it.
Gardner said Vinton Mayor John Watson stopped by to see the center and congratulate the center on their progress.
“John told us Kirkwood is a vital part of the community, a service Vinton needs,” Gardner said. “He told us he was glad we are back.
“We have had a lot of compliments from students too. I think everyone is glad to know we are back.”