JJC Breaks Ground on Romeoville Expansion

Photo: From left to right, Trustee Andy Mihelich, Trustee Mike O’Connell, President Dr. Debra Daniels, Chairman Bob Wunderlich and Romeoville Mayor John Noak pose for a photo at the Romeoville Campus groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 8.

Approximately 50 students, employees, elected officials and community members celebrated the groundbreaking for Joliet Junior College’s expansion project on the Romeoville Campus Sept. 8, according to a release from Joliet Junior College.

The new building, the first major construction on the college’s Romeoville Campus since it opened in 1993, will add more than 49,000 square feet to the campus, where enrollment has grown 45 percent in the last 10 years. It is expected to be completed in 2017. The two-story facility will include:

• Student services
• Bookstore
• Cafeteria
• Classrooms
  
• Laboratories
  
• Space for campus police
  
• Faculty offices

JJC Board of Trustees Chairman Bob Wunderlich, speaking on behalf of the board, said that it is the role of the board to respond to the needs of the community, and that the new addition to Romeoville Campus would be doing that.

“We are expanding this campus to help you meet your educational goals, whatever those may be,” he said.

See renderings of the Romeoville Expansion

Village of Romeoville Mayor John Noak, who also spoke at the ceremony, expressed his support and enthusiasm for the project.

“I know I speak for a lot of my colleagues when I say how important this institution is to our community,” he said. “This is one of the most exciting things happening in our community.”

Other elected officials who attended the event included: Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, State Senator; Beth Rice, Will County Board; Dr. Bernice Holloway, Romeoville Village Clerk; Pat McGuire, State Senator; Ken Griffin, Romeoville Trustee; David Palya, Lockport City Council; Linda Palmiter, Village of Romeoville; Emily McAsey, State Representative; Mike Fricilone, Will County Board; Dave Richards, Romeoville Trustee; Carole Chaney, Congressman Foster’s Office.

The Romeoville Expansion is part of the college’s master plan, which calls for additional space for academic programs and student development services to respond to this growth.