PHOTO: Present and former IVCC trustees break ground for the new Peter Miller Community Technology Center Thursday. They are former student trustee David Zallis, left, trustees Mike Driscoll, David Mallery and Jim Narczewski, President Jerry Corcoran, board chair Dennis Thompson, former trustee Tom Setchell, student trustee Brad Cockrel and board secretary Jeanne Hayden.

Illinois Valley Community College today celebrated another historic milestone by breaking ground on the nearly 80,000-square-foot Peter Miller Community Technology Center.

Though actual construction of the new building will not begin until spring, IVCC today joined with representatives from the state’s Capital Development Board and Miller Group Charitable Trust to symbolically launch the $30.5 project.

A crowd of about 75, including district legislators, union representatives, construction officials, IVCC employees, trustees, Foundation directors, student government representatives and capital campaign steering committee members huddled under brisk 35-degree temperatures on the east side of the Cultural Centre.

“By late 2013, this new building will be home to many of our technical programs like computer-aided design and drafting, computer numerical control, electronics and industrial electricity, wind energy maintenance, and manufacturing; as well as our student service programs like admissions and records, financial aid, counseling, Project Success, career services, continuing education and adult education,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran.