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The college received 17 proposals for the project before narrowing its selection to three firms.
The board heard from Hastings and Chivetta, who designed the college's new nursing and health science building which was completed just before the beginning of the spring semester, and from Ittner and Lawrence Group, both of which have offices in Missouri.
In addition to renovating the existing space, the floor will have to have existing asbestos removed, a process which could cost upward of $1 million according to representatives with Hastings and Chivetta.
The total project could cost about $8 million.
Regardless of the scope of the finalized plans, the asbestos abatement will be a required part.
"We can't make any plumbing or electrical changes to the current building without getting rid of the asbestos," President Ed Jackson told the board last month.
The college's Administration Building was built in 1971, before the Environmental Protection Agency limited levels of asbestos allowed to be found in products in 1989.
Asbestos is a toxic, fibrous material linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the mesothelium, the protective lining of internal organs.
The material became popular for use because of its heat and electrical insulation properties.
The building has other issues as well such as single-pane windows and a library which is not designed efficiently for those with disabilities, Jackson said.
Areas renovated also will need to be brought up to current building code.
The project could begin its construction phase in as little as a year.
Following the presentations, the board met in executive session to chose a firm and authorize Bauer to enter negotiations.
Other capital improvement projects scheduled for 2010 include replacing the campus phone systems with Voice-over Internet Protocol, or VOIP, updating servers to allow streaming video in more classrooms, and redesigning the school Web site.
