FAIRHOPE, Ala. — A building first conceived 15 years ago and formally announced a year ago is edging closer to reality. Ground was broken Friday morning for the new Health and Natural Science Building on the Faulkner State Community College campus in Fairhope. College officials pointed out that its time has come.

“It means we’ll be able to do more to help students reach their goals — more that we’ve ever been able to do before,” said Dr. John Borom, director of the FSCC Fairhope campus. “We have a lot of students here and like all students, they need to have studies they can transfer (to four-year schools). They can find good jobs and improve their lives. This is a tremendous upgrade to the Fairhope campus.”

The $14 million, 52,000-square-foot, three-story structure will be built along Bancroft Street, and will provide the school with the space needed to expand existing programs and create new programs that will help meet student and community needs.

Work on the three-story building will take 12-14 months to complete, and Borom said it could be ready for students by the middle of 2010. It will house chemistry, physics, biology, microbiology and general purpose classrooms and labs; allied health classrooms and labs; science/allied health classrooms; and faculty offices.

Faulkner offers a two-year associate degree in nursing, an associate degree in applied science, a one-year licensed practical nurse certificate and several other health-related degrees. The nursing programs are accredited by the National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission.

Borom said, “All of these will support the local hospitals, the medical professionals, doctor’s offices and will make the community better.”

He continued, saying, “It’s something that will improve the community and improve the economy at the same time. We hear gloom and doom every day. How do you fix it? You fix it one day at a time. This is part of the puzzle.”

Funding for the facility came from a number of sources, including private donations, a bond issue and state and local government. Alabama Community College System Chancellor Bradley Byrne also chipped in $1 million from his discretionary fund.

“Community colleges are supposed to give people opportunities to make their lives better for themselves and their families. It takes time for dreams to become reality, and this is a big step for this campus,” Borom said. “It’s part of the growth process to provide more areas for education — to have more opportunities.”

Construction was originally expected to begin as early as last summer with completion this fall. The rising cost of materials had for several years been a factor that led to delaying the project, however.

Borom said, “Windows open and close and opportunities open and close. The stars lined up and we were able to get more building for less money than we were before.” He noted the price of steel and other materials is now down, and taxpayers will reap the savings.

Walcott Adams Verneuille designed the building, which complements Fairhope’s downtown architecture. Stuart Construction of Bay Minette will build the facility. Not only is it be expected to be aesthetically pleasing, it will also be energy efficient.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is part of the Green Building Rating System. It will be the first structure in Alabama’s community college system that is LEED certified.

“It doesn’t have a heavy footprint on the environment,” Borom said. “We’ve got to be aware of how our actions affect the Earth.”

LEED certified buildings typically use less water, are more energy efficient and have better indoor air quality. In fact, the Faulkner building should be 29 percent more energy efficient than many standard buildings because of extra insulation, better weatherproofing, shaded windows and highly efficient lighting. Around $20,000 in utility costs could be saved each year.

Borom said, “It’s an example that hopefully others will follow. We need to ask how we can make the planet a little better for the next generation.”

Students should be comfortable in the new learning center. They will have use of study areas on the second floor of the building, and may socialize in a new Sun Chief Den downstairs, which will replace the existing student center. Borom said the old student building will be demolished.

The Den will have couch and lounge space, a double-sided fireplace and two 52-inch flat-screen televisions. The room will also have a vending area where students can get refreshments during breaks.

Faulkner students won’t be shut-ins though. They may step outside to an open-air terrace where there will be additional patio-style seating.

The new faculty offices, storage space and lab support areas will enable instructors to schedule more classes and provide more available class times during registration for those interested in attending Faulkner State.

“I’m excited about it,” Borom said. “It’s a big step for Fairhope. It’s a positive step for the community, and will affect a lot of people’s lives … It’s part of the growth process to provide more access to education, to give people more opportunities.”

Among those attending yesterday’s groundbreaking were Byrne, Alabama State Board of Education Vice President Randy McKinney and Faulkner State President Gary Branch, as well as local dignitaries, legislators, business and industry leaders.

After the ceremony, attendees enjoyed a brunch prepared by Faulkner State’s award-winning culinary chefs and students. Entertainment was provided by the Faulkner State Sun Chief Sound Show Band under the direction of David Ayers, director of vocal studies.

The new building is the first cog in a campus master plan revealed in January 2008. Among the others is a 32,000-square-foot Performing Arts Center that will dominate the center of the campus, while still preserving open space.

Mac Walcott, a partner in Walcott Adams Verneuille, said last year that the future look of the campus would likely please the late Dorothy “Mama Dot” Cain. Even in her later years, Cain kept an eye on the former campus of her beloved Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education, and supported the idea of preserving its green space.

The new building will be at least the fourth to occupy the site. Among them were the Faulkner gym and recreation center known as “The Hangout,” as well a hall honoring the late Lydia J. Newcomb Comings that was part of the Organic School.