The remodel of the landscape and buildings around campus are in full swing at the moment for their June 30 deadline. 

The remodels that are happening on campus are removing dead or diseased plants and trees that can cause damage to the buildings, vehicles, or that could hurt students and staff walking on campus.

The first phase of the tree-cutting project started at the beginning of the spring quarter by removing the trees and bushes from the north entrance of the east parking lot. 

The plants and trees will be replanted in the entrance of the north parking lot at some point during the May 1 and September contract that Highline has with the city. 

“They had to grub out the trees and plants where they were up in the north entrance, but they will be replanted in the project,” said Barry Holldorf, Director of the Facilities Department. 

Building 21, where the old personal fitness training lab was and the exercise equipment once stood, will be converted into two classrooms, and will take part of a state minor project that is based around a 3.2 million dollar budget. 

There are some funding lines that cover some of the projects, but not all of them can be covered. “Sometimes the college has to bring in local fundings,” Holldorf said. 

The third floor of Building 23 will become the new faculty offices as part of the minor project. Building 15 will be demolished and prepped for the major project, and Building 21 will also be going through some renovations. 

One problem that construction workers have run into on the minor projects is that in Building 29 one of the air conditionings contains four heads on it and only one of them works. However, it would cost 1.6 million dollars to repair, and the team does not have the budget for it.  

But the construction workers were able to find an alternative option that stays within the budget limit they have. 

Highline has undergone multiple renovations within the past couple months and continues to strive to stay within the contract and budget terms.