News Article

NORTH EAST, MD: Cecil College held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, April 29, for the planned Facilities Management Building and Mary Maloney Boulevard on the main campus at One Seahawk Drive in North East, Maryland.

The construction of Mary Maloney Boulevard will provide a second entrance to Cecil College, while the Facilities Management Building will allow modern services to be provided for the maintenance of the College campus and buildings. This is a $16.4 million combined project scheduled to be completed in May 2025.

In attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony from Cecil College were President Dr. Mary Way Bolt, Trustees Mark Mortenson, Cydney Teal, M.D., Sarah W. Colenda, and Donna Horgan, along with Cecil College Foundation Board Chair Frank Mita. They were joined by Cecil County Executive Danielle Hornberger, Cecil County Council Chair Jackie Gregory, Centennial Contractors Enterprises CEO Geoff Preisman, and Project Executive Robert Almand.

“I cannot express how excited we are to start this project. As you can see when you came on campus today, our facilities and grounds are in excellent condition, and that is due to the pride and hard work of the men and women who serve on those teams,” said Dr. Bolt. “Cecil College continues to catalyze the region’s economic growth and enhanced quality of life. The College has a diverse student population, with approximately 2,200 credit students and 2,700 continuing education students. We offer more than 45 associate and 31 certificate programs.”

The Facilities Management Building will be a 16,000-square-foot structure designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification for sustainability. It will be located at the northern end of the College’s property, adjacent to the Cecil College Foundation’s offices in the Cedar House. The architectural design combines high-bay open-ceiling shops and storage bays with an administrative core.

Construction is primarily a pre-engineered metal building. Materials for its construction will include concrete slab, CMU block, structural steel, pre-engineered insulated metal wall panels, partial brick envelope, metal framing, and a metal roof, with a membrane roof and front glazed curtain wall system in the administrative section of the building. The new structure will house the maintenance shop, grounds maintenance shop, custodial operations, auxiliary services, receiving/distribution, duplication, campus storage, and administrative operations.

“I have enjoyed working with Dr. Bolt and our relationship and partnership with the College. This project is so important to the safety aspect of having a second way to exit the College in the event of an emergency,” said Hornberger, as 60.6 percent of the funding came from the state and 39.4 percent from Cecil County.

The new entranceway, strategically located north of the main campus, just south of the Gilpin’s Falls Covered Bridge, of Route 272, will significantly enhance accessibility. It will provide a secondary route to the upper parking lots and the athletic fields on the eastern side of campus. The Mary Maloney Boulevard will feature a lighted walkway adjacent to the new road, connecting the new building to the existing campus.

The boulevard is a tribute to Mary Maloney, a true pioneer for women in Maryland. In 1970, she shattered the glass ceiling, becoming the first female county commissioner in the state. Her fearless determination and ability to make a difference were undeniable. Former Gov. Harry R. Hughes recognized her potential and invited her to become a trustee for then Cecil Community College. Twenty-four years later, she was approved as the first Trustee Emerita in the College’s history, leaving a lasting legacy of empowerment and progress.