BY KATIE AIZON
Journal Staff
CAPITOL HILL, Saipan – As part of ongoing Super Typhoon Sinlaku and Super Typhoon Bavi relief efforts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is constructing 18 modular classrooms and two restrooms at the Northern Marianas College.
USACE shared in a release that having the classrooms built is a top priority as NMC remains the only higher education institution in the Northern Mariana Islands. NMC alongside other schools in the NMI suspended classes after Super Typhoon Sinlaku due to extensive structural damage, closing out the semester earlier than anticipated and postponing the graduation ceremony for the class of 2026.
In a release, Capt. Wesley Beck a critical infrastructure mission commander from the USACE San Francisco District working on the project, shared his experience working in the NMI.
“It has been a wonderful project to work on for the people of the CNMI,” he said. “It is critical for the future of the CNMI since it is the highest level of education on the island.”
According to USACE, each classroom has a capacity of up to 30 students. The structures are designed with comfortability in mind, made to hold up against severe weather events, and last for as long as necessary. Students can expect the classrooms to be climate-controlled to create a comfortable learning environment, including new lighting, and incorporate removable sunshades to protect them from harsh sunlight.
Furthermore, the structures were required to be made of galvanized tubular steel treated with a protective anti-corrosion coating to ensure that the structure does not deteriorate due to environmental factors, such as salt corrosion, and is designed to withstand up to 185 mph winds. USACE continues to partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, and other local and federal agencies to aid in recovery efforts across the NMI.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of the project is expected to be held in late fall. mbj
Journal Staff
CAPITOL HILL, Saipan – As part of ongoing Super Typhoon Sinlaku and Super Typhoon Bavi relief efforts, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is constructing 18 modular classrooms and two restrooms at the Northern Marianas College.
USACE shared in a release that having the classrooms built is a top priority as NMC remains the only higher education institution in the Northern Mariana Islands. NMC alongside other schools in the NMI suspended classes after Super Typhoon Sinlaku due to extensive structural damage, closing out the semester earlier than anticipated and postponing the graduation ceremony for the class of 2026.
In a release, Capt. Wesley Beck a critical infrastructure mission commander from the USACE San Francisco District working on the project, shared his experience working in the NMI.
“It has been a wonderful project to work on for the people of the CNMI,” he said. “It is critical for the future of the CNMI since it is the highest level of education on the island.”
According to USACE, each classroom has a capacity of up to 30 students. The structures are designed with comfortability in mind, made to hold up against severe weather events, and last for as long as necessary. Students can expect the classrooms to be climate-controlled to create a comfortable learning environment, including new lighting, and incorporate removable sunshades to protect them from harsh sunlight.
Furthermore, the structures were required to be made of galvanized tubular steel treated with a protective anti-corrosion coating to ensure that the structure does not deteriorate due to environmental factors, such as salt corrosion, and is designed to withstand up to 185 mph winds. USACE continues to partner with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross, and other local and federal agencies to aid in recovery efforts across the NMI.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the completion of the project is expected to be held in late fall. mbj
