SALT LAKE CITY -- Rankings for construction of new classroom buildings at the Davis Applied Technology College and Weber State University are holding steady. Both institutions are ranked among the top four projects by the legislative Capital Facilities Sub-appropriations Committee. That group ranked the requested projects from across the state late last week.

"They kept us in the same place," said Mike Bouwhuis, DATC president. That places the machining building project at number three.

For the past 16 years, DATC has been seeking funding for a new machining/technology building, with $15 million being sought in this session.

"Machinist, diesel, industrial maintenance and drafting would move into the new building," Bouwhuis said.

That would free up existing facilities to house the growing composites program as well as the apprenticeship program.

Existing space is not designed for such programs, he said. In addition, composite is a new technology that didn't even exist several years ago. However, Bouwhuis said demand from area aerospace and other firms is growing for trained workers.

Weber State's building request, for $22 million, would mean the demolition of two quonset huts. They have been used for classrooms for decades, and were intended to serve as temporary facilities on the then-new campus decades ago.

"We feel we're at a good position to be funded where we're currently ranked," said John Kowalewski, WSU public relations director.

The appropriations committee will make a final recommendation on which projects should be funded.

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com