Remodeling of an educational facility in Wichita, Kansas. Completed plans call for the remodel of a 24,400-square-foot, one-story above grade educational facility.

https://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2024/02/01/wsu-tech-city-center-renovation-automotive.html WSU Tech is embarking on a building renovation effort at its City Center campus aimed at increasing student opportunity in a high-demand industry. Construction work recently began on Building C -- which houses the college's automotive service technology program, as well as its alternative fuel maintenance and advanced electronics program -- to add a classroom, lab space and help the school bring on more students in those programs. The project, at 301 S. Grove St., is expected to be complete in time for the fall semester. While additional square footage isn't on tap for the over 25,000 square-foot building, the project is expected to make the space more more efficient, flexible and "cutting edge," according to Jessi Lane, dean of applied technology at WSU Tech. "We really want to be top of the line, not just regionally but nationally, to provide students the best education that they can get," said Lane, adding the upgrades will better allow the school to host industry partners who are giving large lectures or contributing to other events. Lane said currently the two transportation programs -- which have more than 200 students combined and four on-site faculty members -- are at capacity in the decades-old building. The modernization is expected to increase student capacity by 32. The number goes up to 48 with the addition of an instructor, "if demand follows growth trends," he said. WSU Tech's automotive service technology program teaches secondary and post-secondary students how to diagnose, repair and service various automotive vehicles through classroom and lab instruction. The alternative fuel maintenance and advanced electronics program is similar, Lane said -- but with more of a focus on electric and hybrid vehicle work. That includes students each year getting to build an electric vehicle from the ground up. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, there will be around 67,700 openings nationwide each year through 2032 for automotive service technicians and mechanics. Meanwhile, research from TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes professional technician careers, has found that the number of graduates from automotive sector postsecondary programs has fallen 20% since 2020. Lane said growing the WSU Tech programs has the potential to help with "extremely high" local demand for workers in the industry. "This is a good opportunity for us to reinvest in that building and provide more opportunities for... students in the region to work in that area," he said. GLMV Architecture is the architect on the project. Crossland Construction is the general contractor. A commercial building permit, with a valuation of almost $1.6 million, was recently issued for the work. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Project is for the remodel of the approximately 12,000-square-foot space within the building that is 25,000 square feet in total. The Snap-On renovation will occur in the existing garage space, paint booth area and classroom space at the existing C Building located on the former WATC Campus at East High School. The remodel areas will allow for a teaching lab for maintenance of alternative fuel vehicles, an increased classroom area, and a dedicated Kubota lab. The alternative fuel areas will be capable of teaching maintenance of electric vehicles and possible compressed natural gas, hybrids, or other such vehicles. WSU Tech and the end user would like to have the shop area (approximately 18,000 square feet) fully tempered. The shop space temperature target setpoint will be approximately 76 to 79 degrees. The new classroom will have a temperature target setpoint of 72 to 75 degrees and 50 percent relative humidity Remodel of the approximately 12,000 s/f space within the building that is 25,000 s/f total. The Snap-On renovation will occur in the existing garage space, paint booth area, and classroom space at the existing "C" Building located at the former WATC Campus at East High School.