Construction is set to begin on a $3.15 million expansion of Dr. Kent L. Wattleworth Hall, which will accommodate Olney Central College’s Radiography and Nursing programs.
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 2 PM on Wednesday, January 15th. The event will commence with remarks in the Dr. John D. Stull Performing Arts Center before moving to the construction site on the north side of Wattleworth Hall.
The new 8,000-square-foot Applied Technology Center will feature dedicated classrooms and office spaces for both programs, along with high-tech simulation and skills labs. Notably, Radiography students will have access to an energized lab on campus for the first time in the program’s 30-year history. Additional facilities will include a student lounge, laundry area, and increased storage space.
This expansion marks the largest classroom addition at OCC in over a decade and the most significant renovation since the main building opened in 1974. The project will also revamp existing classrooms 106, 107, and 108, designed by Graham & Hyde Architects Inc.
OCC President Chris Simpson stated, “This is a significant enhancement for Wattleworth Hall and a transformative project for our Allied Health programs. It will greatly impact the Nursing and Radiography programs, and it’s thrilling to see this vision come to fruition—something truly worth celebrating.”
He continued, “Our Allied Health Programs are among the most successful, producing graduates who are workforce-ready. This not only advances the college’s mission but will have a lasting impact on the community as our graduates enter local healthcare facilities.”
Partially funded by the Illinois Capital Development Board, Simpson noted that project bids exceeded the initial construction budget. Instead of scaling back the project, OCC sought community support.
As a result, the college has secured over $400,000 in donations to cover the shortfall, including a pledge of more than $150,000 from the Olney Central College Foundation over the next five years. Other contributors include Wabash General Hospital, the Johnsie Flock Fildes Foundation, the Richland County Board, and the City of Olney, as well as a generous gift in memory of Phyllis Fehrenbacher from her family.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support from these various groups,” Simpson said. “It highlights the generosity of our community and the important role OCC plays.”
These donations have ensured a positive outcome for OCC students.
“One of the primary reasons we wanted the two nursing classrooms is to consolidate all of our Allied Health Programs in one location,” Simpson explained. “Currently, they are dispersed throughout Wattleworth Hall. Additionally, without the two nursing classrooms, we would have faced a net loss of classroom space. Now, we will gain both classrooms and office space.”
Preparatory work at the site is already underway, and construction is expected to continue throughout 2025, with the facility anticipated to be ready for student use in 2026.
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