KCC Board awards bid for Childcare Learning Center

Diversified Contractors Inc. of Klamath Falls is preparing the site for Klamath Community College’s Childcare Learning Center after being awarded the general contractor bid for by the KCC Board of Education in early December.

On Dec. 23, DCI began site preparation on KCC’s 11th campus building. The nearly 29,000-square-foot, $18.5 million center near the college’s north entrance will provide early childhood education and care for up to 140 children. It will also be home to KCC’s Early Childhood Education and Paraeducator degree programs.

Pivot Architecture of Eugene designed the project and ZCS Engineering of Klamath Falls drew up the engineering plans. Clint Willhite, project manager for DCI, said about 20 DCI workers will be onsite during the construction. Also, several subcontractors, most of them local, will be used for work such as electrical, plumbing and paving.

“DCI will do most of the foundation, framing and walls ourselves,” Willhite said, “but will need about 10 subcontractors for some specialties.”

It will be the largest early childhood care and education center in Klamath County and the second largest in the state.

Construction of the center will be done in phases. DCI, through its $10.1 million contract, will complete the first phase of the project. While the building will open for use upon completion of the main structure in the first phase, some interior spaces will be finalized later.

“We are going to keep the original plan for 12 classrooms and two KCC student classrooms, but a portion of the building will be a shell to be completed as funds become available,” Dave Wendt, Vice President of DCI said.

KCC has secured a significant portion of the project funding through federal, state, county and foundation grants, as well as community donations. Progress continues in raising additional funds to complete the project. KCC will also invite the community to partner in the Childcare Learning Center through a capital campaign during an upcoming kick off celebration event.

“This is an important economic driver in our community,” KCC President Dr. Roberto Gutierrez said. “It has been in the planning stages for several years. We believe we cannot delay the project any longer.”

The KCC Childcare Learning Center is a partnership with Oregon Child Development Coalition (OCDC), and Klamath County, which has contributed $500,000 to the project.

“Partnerships such as these allow us to move forward with construction of the childcare center,” Dr. Gutierrez said. “These funds allow us to build a center that asks for no bond money from local taxpayers, yet fulfills a need in the community and spurs economic development.”

Along with the educational spaces, the center will also have a multi-use common area, offices and private conference rooms for families and staff; a commercial kitchen; two ADA-equipped playgrounds; and curb-to-door bus access for safety. OCDC will run the day-to-day center operations for early childhood care and education services, available to community members, as well as KCC students, and staff.

“Childcare is the No. 1 obstacle for parents to seek work or attend college,” Dr. Gutierrez said. “This project will go a long way in easing that burden.”

The construction is a bright spot in the local economy, Wendt noted. “We very much appreciate KCC awarding the contract to us” he said.

DCI has been in business for 45 years in the Basin and has worked on past KCC campus projects.

It is anticipated the center will open by late spring 2027.