Valley Foundations in Ohio – Education: West Virginia University in Parkersburg works in the new innovation and technology center – Parkersburg News

The University of West Virginia in Parkersburg Tori Jackson is reviewing plans with Bob Cooper, CEO of the facilities and management of WVUP maintenance as they take a tour of the former Ohio University Authority, where WVUP has currently renovated the building in its new innovation and Technology Center. (Photo from Bret Dunlap)

Vienna – Everything is in the vision of what the new university in Western Virginia at Parkersburg Innovation and Technology Center may be to help the area grow with new education opportunities.

Work on the renovation continues on the Hundred Administration building in the former campus of the University of Ohio Valley to turn it into the new Innovation and Technology Center (ITC), which is expected to be opened for the first phase and operate this fall.

“A lot of happened last year and this year will happen a lot.” WVUP President Tori Jackson said. “You should be able to see what the vision will be.

“We have to do it in phases because it’s huge.”

In the last year, work has been done to be able to heat the building and replace seven roofs to stop the leaks so that the internal work can be focused. The crews also worked on the removal of asbestos from the building and others.

Space in the classroom, which is being built in the former Ohio Vali University Administration, where the University of West Virginia in Parkersburg is doing repair work to create its new innovation and technology center. (Photo from Bret Dunlap)

Different construction crews work on the hundredth building, destroy the walls, expanding rooms, upgrading electrical work (which costs $ 800,000 to do), replacing the building’s water main, performing the elevator and others. The work is done to create classrooms, conference rooms and office space, as well as to give an updated look to the facility.

Ov closed his doors in December 2021 against the backdrop of financial and academic struggles. The WVUP Foundation announced in the summer of 2023 that it purchased the property $ 225.22 for $ 4.6 million as part of a $ 10 million gift from the ROS Foundation.

The repairs that are being carried out will create space in the classroom and offices to begin proposals for the class in the fall of 2025.

The first phase will be the relocation of workforce and economic development (WED) (which houses many short -term programs) and the college unit of computer information to include their degrees of computer science/computer information technology as well as a bachelor of appliances Technologies at Cyber-Ciber Security and ITC network administration, Jackson said. They plan to start with four classrooms dedicated to computer programs and three dedicated to short -term programs.

These short -term programs may include things like a health worker, a certified medical assistant, dental assistant, phlebotomy, production operator, Intro to Mig and Stick Welding, HVAC for beginners, nail technician, aluminum welding and support specialist The peers that the college offers.

Construction works carried out by the new Innovation Laboratory at the University of West Virginia at the new Center for Innovation and Technology of Parkersburg. Crews remove walls and expand spaces. The innovation laboratory will be used for courses under the engineering technology program. The innovation laboratory will have a variety of equipment for use in WVUP courses. (Photo from Bret Dunlap)

Wednesday’s location will have six offices. They will also start with five faculties, as well as several ITC administrative offices.

A podcast studio is part of the first phase and will be completed when the Wed classrooms also end.

“There will be student trainees who will work with the community business to do different marketing projects, sub -crab, graphic design, spending writing and more,” “ The WVUP Foundation director Olivia Reeder said. “We will create a simulated workplace environment for media and marketing students and students focused on this.”

A second phase, at the same time, will create the new kindergarten establishment in the former OVU library space, Jackson said. Once completed, the kindergartens can eventually take care of up to 120 children.

There are plans for leaving the Ovi chapel space as a place for meetings and to be rented for weddings. Jackson said the old OVU kitchen can be updated at some point in a commercial kitchen facility and they are looking for someone who can be able to turn the former cafe into a restaurant.

Currently, construction is underway in the offices of the workforce and economic development at the University of West Virginia in the new Center for Innovation and Technology of Parkersburg in the building of the administration of the administration of the University of Ohio Valley. They are among some of the spaces that are ready by the beginning of the semester autumn 2025. (Photo by Bret Dunlap)

The University works with a company to create “Adding and removing production” facility in the old gym.

“This will be a place with the most modern 3-D printers and metal printers to create products,” “ said Jackson.

There is currently work at the Innovation Laboratory of the Center, located on the ground floor near the old fitness.

“The Innovation Laboratory will have a variety of use equipment in WVU Parkersburg courses to include engineering technology”, “” said Jackson. “This equipment will include laser system, plasma table, 3-D printers, pneumatic square corner, extractor, milling machine, etc.”

The crews tear a number of old baths that were in force when the facility originally worked as a seminary years ago.

The hall of the University of West Virginia at the new Center for Innovation and Technology of Parkersburg in the former administrative building of the University of Ohio Valley. The hall is close to the place where a child/kindergarten raising facility will be installed, which has the potential to eventually serve 120 children. (Photo from Bret Dunlap)

There is already an interest in a business creating in ITC. The university will have several leasing places for the site, both inside and outside, Jackson said.

The university is looking at the expansion of parking, creating ways to enter the facility, as well as a playground for children’s facilities and external basketball and tournament courts in the near future.

The university will work for the exterior of the building to bid in late February or March, Jackson said.

There were about 120 acres of land near the campus, which was annexed in Vienna.

A new road will be built at the end of the 12th street between Lowes and Sam’s Club in Vienna, which will connect to the campus. The road they offer would allow a future home, mixed use, retail trade and others in the area, and be available from the local bus system.

University officials have recently announced that the WVUP Foundation is ready to hand over a number of decares to the Wood County Education Council, including the former OVU football and baseball fields, to build a new elementary school for the district. School employees are still considering the offer.

To what is happening on ITC’s website, Jackson said “Excited” It was not a big enough word.

“What we are doing here has the potential to change Vienna from generations, as it is a project that allows housing development over time, allows schools to be located and allows many businesses to have opportunities here in Vienna”, “” she said. “The biggest word would be” transformational “for the whole community, not just our college.”

You can find Bret Dunlap at [email protected]