Final Beam Hoisted for New Construction Training Center

Monday, September 30, 2024 | By: Daley-Hinkens, Carmelyn M

With the clip of a ribbon and a ceremonial beam hoisted into place, the Fox Valley Technical College’s Construction Training Center is officially complete.

The college broke ground on the unique $1.4 million outdoor training facility in September of 2023. The new facility allows students in the Construction Management Technology (CMT) associate degree program to fully construct and deconstruct a one-story, 1,000+ foot mock building each semester.

“Our idea here is to provide an environment where the student understands how a building goes together, they understand what the trade worker goes through,” says Rich Cass, department chair of Construction Management Technology.

The CMT program has seen consistent growth since it launched in 2009 and has outgrown the indoor lab it uses at the S.J. Spanbauer Center in Oshkosh. The new CTC has enough room for 16 students to work together at one time at the job site.

“This facility creates a safe learning opportunity for our students while also creating a more realistic learning environment,” explains Chris Dragosh, dean of Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Construction Technologies. “Everything you see at the CTC, and what students will do there, is what you’d typically see on a commercial construction site.”

The CTC was built on 2.6 acres of college-owned property on Waupun Road in Oshkosh. The site includes a 5,000-square-foot building to store reusable materials and equipment, a field office and site storage typically seen on a commercial construction site.

Graduates of this program continue to be in high demand in the workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction management profession is projected to grow by 9% between 2023 and 2033, surpassing the national average.

“Our Graduate Outcomes Report boasts a 100% placement rate for our Construction Management Technology students within six months of graduation,” says President Dr. Chris Matheny. “With this enhanced training experience, we are even more sought after by employers in the construction industry.”

The project was made possible, in part, due to generous donors who made in-kind contributions to the project. They include CR Meyer, Boldt, Omni Glass & Paint and Wells Concrete.