Columbus State Community College is planning a multimillion-dollar project to modernize its automotive training center on its downtown campus, the school announced Thursday.
The project will expand Columbus State's Automotive Technology Education Center to more than 40,000 square feet in Delaware Hall, one of Columbus State's largest buildings, using $15.6 million in bond financing. We will also work with our manufacturing partners to modernize our space to support more students who will be prepared for the growing needs of battery electric vehicles and other emerging technologies.
The university has identified the Automotive Center as a priority for upgrades in its 2019 academic facilities and technology plan. Franklin County voters approved the university's $300 million bond issue for capital projects in April 2020.
“As advanced technology production increases in our region, we are providing access to high-paying, high-demand careers that align with the future needs of major manufacturing employers in the region such as Honda, Ford, and the Honda brand. A modern automotive technology education environment is key, said Carmen Daniels, dean of business, engineering and technology at Columbus State University.
The project will take place in two phases. First, Columbus State University will renovate a former campus gymnasium into a new space for automotive technology education. It will then update the program's existing instructional space in Delaware Hall. Construction will begin in the second quarter of 2025, and both phases are expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
A portion of the new lab space will be dedicated to the existing Ford ASSET and upcoming Honda PACT academic training programs, opening up the possibility of other brand-specific partnerships for Columbus State University students, the university said.
“This investment helps us deliver on our promise to Franklin County residents to invest in high-demand career education infrastructure,” said Columbus State President David Harrison. “This is a creative reuse of one of our largest buildings and will allow us to successfully grow our automotive technology program.”
Columbus State's Automotive Technology program currently offers associate degrees and certificates for students interested in careers as automotive service or repair technicians. Enrollment in the program has increased by more than 13 percent over the past two years, with approximately 375 students enrolled annually.
Sheridan Hendricks is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch.Sign up for her education newsletter, Extra Credit, here.
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