Work resumes on downtown HSU center

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen GETTING REDDIE: Summit Properties construction crew employees Harold James, left, and Joe Wells place a section of fence into place at the Landmark Building on Thursday. Renovation plans, which included the use of fencing to define the campus, for the new Downtown HSU/NPCC Education Center were revealed earlier this year. Classes are planned to be held in the Landmark Building beginning in the spring semester.
The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen GETTING REDDIE: Summit Properties construction crew employees Harold James, left, and Joe Wells place a section of fence into place at the Landmark Building on Thursday. Renovation plans, which included the use of fencing to define the campus, for the new Downtown HSU/NPCC Education Center were revealed earlier this year. Classes are planned to be held in the Landmark Building beginning in the spring semester.

Renovation work on the Landmark Building renewed this week as workers descended upon the new Downtown HSU/NPCC Education Center ahead of the planned spring 2015 opening.

Henderson State University classes in Hot Springs this semester have been held on the National Park Community College campus. Christi Batts, executive director of HSU-Hot Springs, said classes will be moved to the Landmark Building during the spring semester.

The two institutions announced in April that Henderson would establish the first-ever four-year university presence in Hot Springs at the downtown location. The Landmark Building is located at the intersection of Central Avenue, Ouachita Avenue, Market Street and Olive Street.

Rick Williams, owner of the building, began renovations earlier this year. Another renovation project was later undertaken on Ouachita Avenue. Completion of the new project allows Lender's Title to move out of Landmark and into the new location.

Workers began surrounding the Landmark property with iron fencing on Thursday. Williams said renovation plans included the use of fencing to define the campus, a full parking lot and a water feature with a sign displaying the Henderson and NPCC names.

The move to Hot Springs enabled Henderson to more than double credit hours for local students. Enrollment increased from 92 last semester to 169 in the fall, including 107 full-time students. The HSU-Hot Springs student body includes 58 education majors and 77 business majors.

Local on 12/20/2014

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