A landmark day for higher education in Jefferson County arrives Tuesday, May 12 with a ceremonial groundbreaking for Peninsula College at Fort Worden in Port Townsend.

The $6.1 million project to convert the two-story Building 202 into an education center gives Peninsula College, based in Port Angeles, a permanent campus here.

“Building 202 is a game changer for us in East Jefferson County,” said Luke Robins, Peninsula College president.

“Our current facility is totally inadequate, and our board of trustees has made a clear commitment to providing state-of-the-art learning spaces for our students, regardless of location. Our newly renovated Peninsula College at Forks site is evidence of that ongoing commitment, and 202 will provide a similar 21st-century learning space for students in the eastern part of our service area.”

Construction of the 14,000-square foot building is expected to take about a year. Once renovated, Building 202 would include four general classrooms, a science classroom, a studio/art room, a learning lab, a workforce training room, student study space, reception and advising areas, and faculty offices.

During periods when it is not used by the college, the facility would be available for use by the Fort Worden Public Development Authority (PDA). According to Dave Robison, PDA executive director, one of the primary reasons the city created the PDA was to partner with the college to help facilitate the Building 202 project.

"This is a cornerstone project that will further implement the vision of the Lifelong Learning Center and provide a strong foundation for expanding arts, cultural and educational programs and classes at the fort," said Robison.

A brief program at the 3:30 p.m. May 12 event includes remarks from Luke Robins, Peninsula College president, Mike Maxwell, Peninsula College trustee, a Port Townsend community member and City of Port Townsend and PDA representatives, among others. Refreshments follow in the Commons at Fort Worden.

Peninsula College had started in Port Townsend with classes in the Waterman & Katz Building downtown, and then relocated and expanded into what is known as the Fort Worden Schoolhouse, which was built in 1904 as the post hospital. Once educational programs have relocated to Building 202, the schoolhouse becomes available for other PDA uses. The PDA has a lease with Washington State Parks to manage Fort Worden's campus area.

Building 202 was erected in 1904 to house a company of U.S. Army Coast Artillery soldiers, self-contained with kitchen, bathrooms, offices and storage. It was slightly modified in the 1960s for the Fort Worden Diagnostic and Treatment Center. It was last used in 2012 as dormitory housing for state park guests (soccer teams, music camps, etc.)

The state Department of Enterprise Services (DES) implements the state's construction process and serves as the state's government construction management office. It is responsible for the design and construction of all public works projects for community and technical colleges.

The Building 202 project is a design-bid-build project, and prevailing wage is one of the statutory requirements.