BANGOR – Construction began recently on a two-story, 3,200-square-foot addition to the New England School of Communications on the Husson College campus.

Bangor contracting firm Nickerson and O’Day began on the new addition June 1 and is expected to complete the project by Oct. 15. The addition, to be built at the rear of the school’s present structure, was designed by architectural firm John Gordon and Associates and is expected to cost $500,000.

NESCOM’s President George Wildey said increased enrollment created a need for the addition. The school’s enrollment is expected to reach 300 by September 2005.

The second floor of the addition will include a classroom, a computer cluster with digital and video capabilities, a new equipment room and three offices for faculty and staff. The ground floor will have additional audio and video editing booths, an advanced audio-video suite and an audio control room. The old equipment room will be converted into four additional editing suites.

The school, now in its 23rd year, prepares students for careers in broadcast and digital media fields, including video, audio, advertising and public relations.