Baldor sweetens Westark gift
by February 22, 1999 12:00 am 49 views
Westark College in Fort Smith celebrated the Feb. 8 ground breaking for a new technology center with another gift from Baldor Electric Co. and its top three executives — a $2 million endowment.
The endowment is the latest in a string of gifts to the community college from Baldor, a manufacturer of electric motors and drives. The college’s new building will be called the Baldor Technology Center in recognition of the long relationship between the company and Westark.
The $2 million is a gift from Baldor, Roland S. Boreham, chairman of Baldor’s board; R.L. Qualls, vice chairman; and John A. McFarland, president. Earnings from the endowment will be used to provide scholarships for technology students and for purchasing new equipment.
Baldor Technology Center will be the school’s largest building with 102,170 SF of space to house Westark’s bachelor of manufacturing technology degree program and other technology programs. An estimated 700 to 800 students are expected to use the center when it is complete.
SSI Inc. of Fort Smith is the general contractor for the $10.8 million building. MAHG Architects Inc., also of Fort Smith, designed the building. It’s being paid for by a property tax millage and with a $2 million state appropriation. Construction is expected to take 12 to 15 months.