The College of Western Idaho is celebrating two new building projects — with a bridge linking one of the building sites to the existing Nampa campus.

Joined by legislators and local officials, CWI last week held a signing ceremony at the bridge, which will connect to a new Horticulture and Agricultural Science building.

The horticulture building and a health and science building are now under construction, and are scheduled for completion in the summer of 2025.

“CWI’s expansion projects are more than just an addition of buildings — it’s a bold step towards enhancing our educational offerings and our community’s access to cutting-edge resources,” CWI President Gordon Jones said in a news release. “This bridge signing event symbolizes our journey forward together, bridging our past achievements with future possibilities.”

The horticulture project sets aside about 40 acres for research, and calls for about 38,000 square feet of buildings and lab space.

Located near the existing Nampa Campus Academic Building, the health and science building will house programs such as microbiology, biology, dental assisting, surgical technology and nursing. The initial plans include about 50,000 square feet of learning space, with an additional 10,000 square feet of unfinished space to build out later.

Headquartered in Nampa, with additional classes in Boise, CWI is the state’s largest community college.

For spring 2024, its student headcount totaled more than 17,400 students, according to a State Board of Education report. Dual credit, adult education and career-technical programs push CWI’s total enrollment to more than 30,000.