Renovation Report: Central Piedmont Community College City View Center

This fall, up to 40 students at Central Piedmont Community College will start their studies in the school’s new cosmetology program.

But before any of the aspiring stylists can begin cutting hair, doing nails or giving facials, Central Piedmont and Shiel Sexton had to do several months of work to prepare CPCC’s City View Center to house the new program.

City View, at 1609 Alleghany St. at the corner of Ashley Street in west Charlotte, had to be completely renovated in the first half of this year, said Jeff Lowrance, public information officer at CPCC.

Shiel Sexton, the Indianapolis-based general contractor, started work in March, Lowrance said. Work is slated to be finished this month, in time for students coming to campus for the fall semester.

Lowrance said the total cost of the renovations was $1 million, including design, construction, specialized equipment and furniture. Charlotte-based ADW Architects worked as the designer on this project.

The facility will operate as a full-service salon, open to the public. The salon will be open year-round, every day except Sunday. The salon will have 40 hair-cutting stations, according to the CPCC website.

The new cosmetology program will open with a maximum of 40 students, who will learn how to cut and color hair and do manicures, pedicures, and facials. They will be trained and prepared to take the state licensure exam for cosmetology.

CPCC saw the need to start a cosmetology program because of a lack of affordable programs in the area, Lowrance said.

There are currently 20 or more private for-profit cosmetology or barber schools in Mecklenburg County. Students pay $20,000 to $30,000 to complete these programs. CPCC’s cosmetology program will provide high-quality instruction at a much lower cost – less than $10,000 for the two-year program, according CPCC.

Construction appears to be wrapping up at City View. On Monday, crews were seen at moving supplies into the building.

Project description: CPCC is renovating its City View Center to accommodate a new cosmetology program.

Address: 1609 Alleghany St.

Cost: $1 million

Space under renovation: Roughly 10,500 square feet, according to Mecklenburg County records

General contractor: Shiel Sexton

Construction began: March

Expected completion: This month