Northern Marianas College officially broke ground for its flagship building, the Student Center, on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. NMC said the center will be a prominent structure with an innovative design that is student-centric, energy-efficient, and culturally tied to the CNMI’s indigenous roots. The center is funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Office of Insular Affairs.
Northern Marianas College students participate in the groundbreaking ceremony
Northern Marianas College President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD, delivers his remarks.
NORTHERN Marianas College began the physical process of rebuilding its As Terlaje campus on Thursday with a groundbreaking ceremony for a new NMC Student Center.
Dozens of officials, students and community members witnessed the event, which was also streamed live on the college’s social media pages.
In his remarks, NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD said the building will be three stories tall and will house a “multi-purpose hall, student services offices, library, dining area, a bookstore” and more.
The building will have a total interior space of 45,000 square feet.
Deleon Guerrero said the groundbreaking ceremony comes years after the NMC campus was destroyed by Super Tyhpoon Yutu.
“Us getting here says a lot about who we are and what we can do,” Deleon Guerrero said. “Despite typhoons, and despite a pandemic, despite the economic storms, our proa did not sink. We sailed. And when there was no wind we rowed.”
The Chamorro voyaging canoe, the proa is NMC’s mascot.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, for his part, said the building “is a symbol of our island’s resilience and comeback story."
“Despite losing its campus,” he added, “NMC did not lose its spirit. Instead they put their minds together, they rolled up their sleeves, and got to work.”
Palacios noted that NMC officials and staff had knocked on his door and contacted practically every federal agency that could help.
According to NMC, its new student center is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Supplemental funds were provided by the U.S. Office of Insular Affairs.
The building was designed by Taniguici Ruth Makio Architects & Consultants.
