BRISTOL, Tenn. – A local college has moved across the state line.

On April 4, students of the National College of Business and Technology began attending class at a new location, 1328 Hwy 11W.

The new $2.6 million facility was built to expand the college and "spread their wings," according to Campus Director Angela Carrier.

"We have grown so much over the years that we really outgrew that building," she said.

The 18,655-square-foot building includes 16 classrooms, a medical laboratory, a library, a bookstore, offices and a student lounge. It also includes 81 computer workstations.

Patrick Kennard, director of institutional planning, said the new building also gives the college more visibility to potential students.

"We found this particular piece of land that gave us very good accessibility and visibility," he said. "It’s very accessible to students from that whole area and it sits up on a little hill."

The old building at 300 Piedmont Ave. is 11,000 square feet. Kennard said students are excited because of the roomier library and student lounge, in addition to updated technology.

"It’s a first-class facility and the environment will be greatly enhanced," he said. "It’s growth, but it’s providing a much better educational environment for the students."

Carrier said although moving was hectic, the new purple building – painted to match the school colors – has been working out well.

"The smell of paint is a pleasure every day. We’re happy to have our new location by the interstate," she said. "The students are happy with the new clean facility."

Carrier said the additional space has allowed them to move a computer class from the library to its own classroom space.

"In the other building we had to have computer classes in the library. Now the library is its own facility," she said. "We no longer have to depend upon computers in the library for our classroom."

The Bristol College of Business Technology is one of 19 campuses in five states. The Bristol location opened in 1992. About 300 students attend the Bristol campus where degree programs are offered in business, computers and health professions.

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