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

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.

  • Children walking along bright school corridor with motion blur

    How Next-Gen Design Is Reshaping the Student Experience

    The environments where students learn play a crucial role in shaping their growth in and out of the classroom. By centering design on well-being, flexibility, and purpose, districts can ensure their facilities remain vibrant community assets for many years to come.

  • Tennessee Middle School Completes Health, Life Safety Renovations

    The Giles County Board of Education in Pulaski, Tenn., recently announced that a series of renovation projects has been completed at Bridgeforth Middle School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects & Engineers and Brindley Construction to modernize building systems at one of the district’s oldest schools.

  • Full Sail University Announces First Student Housing Facility

    Full Sail University in Winter Park, Fla., recently announced that development has begun on its first student housing community, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Nvision Development for construction and long-term management of the facility, which will stand five stories and have the capacity for more than 570 beds.