Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Wisconsin Tech School Breaks Ground on Public Safety Education Center

  • By Matt Jones
  • 10/20/22

Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, Wis., held a groundbreaking ceremony this week for its new Public Safety Education Center, according to local news. The facility is the final piece of the ongoing Public Safety + Transportation Complex project, the result of a $32-million referendum that local voters passed in November 2020. It will play home to classrooms for the college’s emergency services, police, and fire programs and feature amenities like a track, gym, and fitness center, according to a news release.

“As you might imagine, this building will become a cornerstone of our growing campus and reflects a changing college. We are excited about the future and how this facility will position the college to be a better resource for our community,” said Blackhawk President Dr. Tracy Pierner. “But facilities alone don’t make for great programs—it takes great instructors, students, staff, committed industry partners, and community members who believe in what we do.”

Local news reports that the Public Safety + Transportation Complex at large is the result of findings from the college’s Research and Planning Committee that the existing public safety and transportation facilities were unsafe and inadequate. The new Public Safety Education Center will stand “front and center as visitors approach the college.”

“It’s wonderful,” said Pierner. “It’s the start of a project, but it’s the end of a long culminating overall project, and so we’ve got a lot of great facilities here that are really great. But this is really the capstone, and what makes this so exciting is it will become the cornerstone of a growing campus here in Janesville.”

Pierner said that the facility will also be open for use by community partners, including local law enforcement. The Madison Police Department has previously used the track for vehicle training, and the center’s indoor firing range will help law enforcement partners train and update certifications and skills.

The college is partnering with general contractor JP Cullen and architecture firm Angus-Young. JP Cullen representatives said the project is scheduled for completion in August 2024.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Texas A&M Opens First Building at Fort Worth Campus, Breaks Ground on Research Facility

    The Texas A&M University System marked a major milestone in the development of its Fort Worth campus by opening its first completed academic building and breaking ground on a second facility designed to expand research and industry collaboration.

  • Minnesota District Opens New PreK–12 School

    Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Schools in Gibbon, Minn., recently announced that construction is complete on a new, $68.9-million school for students in grades PreK–12, according to a news release.

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.

  • Fellowes Expands Finish and Wall-Covering Options for Architectural Wall Systems

    Fellowes Architectural Solutions has expanded the materials library for its architectural wall systems with a series of new finishes and wall-covering options intended to provide architects and designers with additional choices for commercial interiors, according to a company news release.