News Release

MSU Billings College of Technology Breaks Ground -- On Monday, July 24, 2006, the MSU Billings College of Technology held a groundbreaking celebration for the new Health Science and General Education Building.

The $9 million, 47,500 square foot building is the first new building to be added to the College of Technology since it was built in 1969.  It is being constructed on 6 acres between Shiloh Road and Central Avenue on the western edge of the COT campus.  The building will house the medical administrative assistant, medical assistant, medical coding and insurance billing, paramedic, practical nurse, radiologic technology, surgical technology, and fire science programs.  Designed by JGA Architects/Engineers, it will also have eight laboratories, 11 classrooms, faculty offices, a covered bay with an ambulance for the paramedic program and a bay to house the fire science program’s wildland fire response truck. The new building will be completed in time for the 2007 fall semester. 

The 2005 Montana legislature approved the sale of $9 million in bonds for the building.  Local residents and businesses contributed more than $600,000 toward the purchase of the land.  They include Billings Gazette Communications/Lee Enterprises Foundation, The Judith C. and Sam E. McDonald, Jr. Family, Stillwater Mining Company, Gary, Lew, and Tom Hines, MSU Billings Foundation, Big Sky Economic Development Authority, Big Sky Economic Development Corporation, Bottrell Family Investments LP, Underriner Motors – Bill and Mary Underriner, and Wyo-Ben, Inc.