The Galveston Community College District Board of Regents on Wednesday, March 20, approved final design concepts for the Abe and Annie Seibel student housing development on the college’s main campus in Galveston.

Creole Design LLC of Houston developed the plans, which include seven units designed to architecturally resemble the historical homes of Galveston. The college anticipates being able to accommodate 60-80 students in the new development.

Sullivan Brothers Builders of Galveston is construction manager for the project. Following a bidding process for specialty work, the board is expected to consider a construction contract at its May or June meeting. Groundbreaking is expected this summer.

In other business, the board approved a contract with CCS Fundraising of Dallas to conduct a pre-campaign feasibility study to determine if the college should proceed with a capital campaign.

The contract, not to exceed $90,000, will include a four-month pre-campaign planning study. Components include an organization scan; collecting, processing and utilizing donor analytics; creating and testing a preliminary case for support; and engaging up to 75 key stakeholders in strategic conversations to test the fundraising capacity for new instructional facilities and expansion and renovation of existing instructional facilities.

In other business, the regents:

  • appointed Mary R. Longoria of Galveston to fill the unexpired term of longtime Regent Florentino “Tino” Gonzalez, who died Jan. 22 following a courageous battle with brain cancer.
  • approved a facilities committee recommendation regarding the PBK contract for $80,000 architectural/engineer design services for renovations to the student services area of the main campus with Title V funding.
  • accepted a certificate of substantial completion from J.T. Vaughn Construction, LLC for the Mary Moody Northen Center window/curtain wall replacement project.
  • approved changes to the core curriculum for fall 2019 as required by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
  • approved special course fees for the 2019-2020 academic year.
  • ratified the employment of Tirizia York as director of the Healthcare Management program, beginning April 8.
  • accepted the FY2019 second quarter investment report.
  • approved a one-year contract with Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. of Katy, Texas, for on-call disaster recovery and restoration services.

Above: Architect’s rendering of the Abe and Annie Seibel student housing development at Galveston College.