As staff, students and supporters celebrated Howard Community College's new $18.7 million classroom building last night, they were already looking ahead to the next piece of the school's emerging campus.

A black-tie president's gala, held on the ground floor of the brand-new instructional laboratory building, also was a fund-raiser for a new visual and performing arts building, expected to break ground in August.

The school's first new building in over a decade "is a dramatic change," said HCC President Mary Ellen Duncan. "It is creating more of a campus kind of feeling."

More space is a top priority for the school as enrollment in for-credit classes has increased steadily in the past five years. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of full-time students is expected to rise 34 percent, and the number of part-time students 14 percent.

HCC educates more than 6,000 people in for-credit classes and more than 12,000 continuing-education students.

Even with the three new buildings called for in the current master plan (the instructional lab, the arts building and a proposed student services center) the school will have a deficit of square feet for its number of students, based on state formulas.

A growing proportion of the enrollees are traditional college-age students, Duncan said. Twenty percent to 25 percent of high school graduates in Howard County go to HCC, and "They expect a full college experience," Duncan said.

That expectation will be partially addressed when classes start next month by the new, 105,000-square-foot building with computer-equipped classrooms and computer labs with high-speed connections, plus a coffee bar, student lounges, faculty offices and a multipurpose room.

The building has high ceilings, large windows and a beautiful, glassed atrium, said Ken Kolb, senior project manager for Riparius Construction. And "there are a lot of little study areas, places to sit and couches ... where people can spend time between classes," he said.

Workers are putting the finishing touches on the interior of the building, including painting, wiring and other small jobs. But faculty and students will be able to use the space when the semester starts next month.

Ghita Moussaide, 18, an international student from Morocco who is studying international relations at HCC, was a volunteer at last night's fund-raiser.

"We're really excited about it, and I think it looks beautiful," she said of the new building.

Julie Jones, manager of the school's computer lab, was excited about the lab's new home when she visited it last night. "This is glorious. It's so big," she said, viewing the room, which was being used temporarily as a buffet and bar for the fund-raising party.

Guests at the gala stayed in the first-floor common areas, which were completed in time for the event. They enjoyed food and drinks, listened to music, danced and bid on works of art and other items in silent and live auctions.

Up for bid were paintings, jewelry and other items by local and national artists, impressions from original etchings by Rembrandt, a feng shui consultation and a private concert by the Gemini Piano Trio.

"We hope to raise over $30,000 from the auctions and ticket sales," said Jamie Braman, director of alumni and special events. She said more than 220 guests were expected at the $150-per-ticket event.

The money will go toward the school's commitment to fund 25 percent of the new arts structure, which will cost between $19 million and $20 million.

"We can't wait another decade," said Ardell Terry, executive associate to the president for the capital campaign.

Funds from state and county sources, which covered the instructional lab, can't be counted on to pay for the arts building soon enough, she said. "If we really want this, the private sector has to be involved."

Space for arts instruction and practice is desperately needed, Terry said. Teachers give voice lessons in tiny offices, dancers practice without leaping in a low-ceilinged former cafeteria, and proper acoustics and lighting are not available in modular units where arts classes are held.

The new building also will house the mass communications department, including television, radio and graphic arts.

Enrollment in arts and humanities courses has grown 44 percent during the past eight years, according to the school, with performing arts expanding by 108 percent.

Meanwhile, the first new building is reason enough for the campus community to get excited.

"The thing I find remarkable is we drew the first shovel of dirt in June 2001 and we're having the gala in December 2002," said Roger Caplan, chairman of the board of trustees. "We brought it in on schedule and on budget," he said. "That's a real tribute ... to everyone involved."

Caplan also said: "The state for too many years has put a lot of emphasis on the University of Maryland. But 50 percent of higher education students in the state go to a community college."

The commitment of county and state resources - splitting the cost 50/50 - to build the instructional building "recognizes the community college as a vital higher learning institution," he said.