CCC Board of Trustees approves architect contract

Clovis Community College Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved hiring an architect to design the proposed Norman and Vi Petty Performing Arts Center on Main Street.

Board members approved a $48,000 contract with Albuquerque architectural firm Van H. Gilbert Architect PC.

“It will provide a main venue for our Cultural Arts Series,” CCC president John Neibling said of the annual program that features national music, theater and dance performances.

Neibling said the college received a $50,000 appropriation from the state Legislature for the project.

The project will renovate three buildings donated to the college, including the Mesa Theater. The two other buildings would be used as reception areas and dressing rooms and could include classrooms, according to CCC Director of Resource Development Stephanie Spencer.

Neibling said the college will try to keep the historic image of the theater. Donated to the college in 2004, the theater was originally a movie theater that Norman and Vi Petty turned into a recording studio.

“The idea is to have this be very much a tribute to the Pettys ... and have a (performing arts theater),” he said.

Neibling said a time frame for the project has not been set.

In other business, board members approved 148 CCC students for spring commencement, including 91 associate degrees and 57 vocational-technical certificates.