Events
Ceremony Marks Progress on Advanced Technology Center
WENDELL, N.C. (January 16, 2025) – Wake Tech is starting the new year celebrating more growth at its forward-thinking Wake Tech East location. The final steel beam was placed atop the state-of-the-art Advanced Technology Center on Thursday.
The "topping out" ceremony recognized the builders and contractors and marked a significant milestone in the construction of the $60 million, 80,000-square-foot facility, which will be home to the college's engineering and biotechnology degree programs when it opens for students next year.
Built by Monteith Construction and designed by Chapel Hill architect Lord Aeck Sargent, it is the fifth building at the college's new campus. College leaders, project workers and community officials gathered to mark the historic moment and sign the 1,000+-pound beam before it was raised into place.
"Today is about celebrating the skilled trades teams building this facility, which will be one of the most unique facilities supporting advanced manufacturing and advanced technology education in North Carolina," said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. "Wake Tech plays a very unique role in that, and we are so proud to train the highly skilled technicians that work in skilled trades and offer economic prosperity across this region."
When completed, the Advanced Technology Center will be a hub for the college's programs and partnerships to support advanced manufacturing. It will feature a 10,000-square-foot biopharmaceutical simulated work environment, state-of-the art labs with intelligent automation, robotics, mechatronics and microelectronics, and a large indoor/outdoor makerspace for student collaboration. The building will also include space for university partner East Carolina University to offer its Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology degree program.
The Advanced Technology Center will also enhance Wake Tech's role in helping attract and grow advanced manufacturing employers in the region. In 2023, Wake Tech was one of 25 colleges in the nation selected by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers to pilot efforts to significantly increase advanced manufacturing employment in their Manufacturing Imperative – Workforce Pipeline Challenge program.
"This is basically 80,000 square feet of technological awesomeness, and we're so glad to have the opportunity to collaborate with Wake Tech and the construction team," said Kelly Yates of Lord Aeck Sargent. "It's one thing to talk about being part of the building process, and we're even more proud of being a part of the opportunities that are being created here at this campus."
Drew Hardin, director of operations for Monteith, gave a special recognition to Wake Tech construction management graduate Kimberly Lewis, who now works as an assistant superintendent for Monteith on the Advanced Technology Center construction project.
"I want to thank Wake Tech for everything it does for the community," Hardin said. "I met Kimberly when she was on a tour of the construction site here. I had the honor of leading the tour, and Kimberly asked so many questions, I didn't think we were ever going to finish. It's just an incredible testament to the work that Wake Tech does to get students excited and passionate for a career in construction."
Facilities continue to grow at the state's largest community college to support historic enrollment surges. More than 25,000 degree-seeking students are attending classes at Wake Tech this Spring semester.
The Advanced Technology Center will add to the programs at Wake Tech East providing educational opportunities for residents of the fast-growing eastern part of Wake County. In addition, a unique Fire and Rescue Training Center with multi-story fire and climbing towers is under construction and will train new and seasoned firefighters from across the Triangle and beyond for advanced fire and rescue techniques. It is also scheduled to open in 2026.
Because of its numerous energy-saving features, Wake Tech East is a leader in sustainability, earning numerous national awards for its standout Central Energy Plant, which features geothermal wells that heat and cool the entire campus.
The development of Wake Tech East is supported by the $349 million bond overwhelmingly approved by Wake County voters in 2018.
