Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton: Workforce Training Center

  • 10/01/18
University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton

PHOTOS © KEN WEST

Workforce training to support existing businesses and industry, as well as attracting new investment in the State of Arkansas, was the driving force behind the new Workforce Training Center recently opened at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton. The college had been providing modern, up-to-date technical training in 50-year-old buildings, but had a long-term vision to create new facilities to provide workforce training utilizing the same types of equipment and processes being utilized in businesses and industry across the country. The result would be to produce graduates who are highly trained and sought-after, ready for immediate employment.

Aligning the college’s mission with the workforce needs of the state and region required that the college be nimble and flexible in order to react to a rapidly changing world. This meant the new facility needed to meet the technology needs of not only today, but also the future. The new 53,000-square-foot facility houses programs for automotive service; heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration; welding; and industrial mechanics and maintenance technology labs. A large multipurpose room provides space for specialized workforce training, demonstrations, and small conferences. The new facility has the capacity to more than double the current program enrollment.

Designed by MAHG Architecture, the new structure is located on a 17-acre site on the west side of campus and is visible from busy Interstate 40. The glass front on the building presents a transparent face towards the highway and campus, inviting students and visitors to see what is going on inside. “Open structure and exposed MEP systems throughout the facility allow the Training Center to be used as a teaching tool, by both students and faculty; and reinforces the sustainable concepts integrated into the project’s design,” says MAHG architect Michael Lejong.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management October 2018 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Empowering People Through Smart, Sustainable Campuses

    Sustainability is facing increasing scrutiny, with some questioning its costs and priorities. Yet for universities, it remains an essential driver of resilience, operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that sustainable transformation is not just about reducing energy consumption and emissions to comply with tightening regulations ‒ it’s about creating vibrant, comfortable environments where people can thrive, innovate and connect. For university leadership, this is a complex balancing act, with rising energy costs and limited budgets only adding to the challenge.

  • Creating Long-Term Sustainability on College Campuses Through Fair Student Housing

    The quality of student housing can have a significant impact on an individual’s college experience. Today’s higher education institutions face mounting challenges, including declining enrollment, low retention rates between the first and second years, and a rise in student mental health concerns. Thoughtfully designed living spaces can help address these issues by creating environments that promote both academic focus and personal well-being.

  • Pudu Robotics Launches AI-Powered, Large-Scale Floor Sweeper

    Pudu Robotics recently launched the newest member of its MT1 series of robotic floor sweepers, the PUDU MT1 Max, according to a news release. The AI-powered, 3D perception robotic sweeper was designed for use in large, complex cleaning environments both indoors and semi-outdoors, like parking garages and semi-open building atriums.

  • CSU Pueblo Installs Solar-Powered Charging Benches

    Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo) recently announced that it has installed four solar-powered charging benches from Bluebolt Outdoor, LLC, according to a news release.

Digital Edition