Veridus Group and its team for the Amplify Hancock project presented an updated version of the plan for the educational facility to the county plan commission at its Aug. 27 meeting.
With rezoning for the initial phase of the project complete, the biggest changes to the plan were updates to the architectural and parking plans, with higher detailing done on the building’s exterior plans and an expansion to 293 parking spaces. With a maximum capacity of 300 students, split between the western leg, which can hold up to 200 students and is reserved for day use by Hancock County Career Center, the official name of the 9-12 grade portion of the facility, and the eastern leg, which has spaces for evening use by 100 Ivy Tech students. Students in HCCC would spend part of their day at the Amplify facility and the rest of the day at their districts. The second floor is available for expansion as well, but staggering of classes such that the building does not plan to ever be at capacity and plans for bussing of high school students to the facility from the county’s four school districts, Veridus Group believes the parking is sufficient despite pushback from Scott Woolridge, who is on both the plan commission and county council. The 293 spaces are also well over what is required for the facility statutorily.
The 20 acres to the north of the facility for future expansion is already being negotiated for purchase, and could also be used for additional parking if that was necessary.
The academic programs offered have been expanded, highlighted by a car mechanic program for students in the HCCC. Beyond the classrooms of the Amplify facility, Veridus Group Project Executive Rick Rush says that the outdoor areas of the facility would also be used for educational purposes, including a plaza which will be used for job fairs and demonstrations and industrial labs with outdoor access in the rear of the building.
Rush said that Veridus group currently doesn’t have any targets for clients on the top floor of the facility, but is actively looking to expand the program.
“There’s not a target at this point except for opportunities for expansion of the current clients, and we’re looking for opportunities to continue partnerships with others outside of the current group,” Rush said.
County commissioner and plan commission member Gary McDaniel had high praise for the project, saying he was glad that trade work education was returning to Hancock County. He went on to ask whether the Amplify team was considering using any forms of renewable energy, but Rush’s team said that the up-front cost of both geothermal and solar power was cost prohibitive. McDaniel asked if it would be possible to install solar panels later, but the current roof plan has too small of an area to install panels.
