SCC breaks ground on new $22 million transportation/STEM facility
Southeastern Community College broke ground on the 22,000 square foot Transportation Technology/STEM Facility near the northeast corner of campus on Aug. 18. The $22 million facility will be home to the Automotive Systems Technology, Diesel Technology and Truck Driver Training programs. More than 100 people gathered near the facility site to support the next phase of SCC’s expansion.
“It’s a big day for Southeastern, and it’s a big day for Columbus County and this region,” said Joe Hooks, Chair of the SCC Board of Trustees. “It’s the opening of our new campus, basically, and it’s the biggest project happening on campus in over 20 years.”
In the ceremony’s opening remarks, Hooks explained that groundbreaking day has been three years in the making.
SCC President Dr. Chris English said the groundbreaking ceremony marked a defining moment in the continued growth and innovation of SCC. He explained that, with the 78-acre land donation from the Myles Cartrette family, SCC has access to future expansion in building space and programing.
“Together, we are equipping students with the skills they need to pursue a rewarding and in-demand career,” English said. “In the words of Henry Ford: If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself. Today is a reality of everyone moving forward.”
English gifted SCC challenge coins to N.C. Representative Brenden Jones, Columbus County Board of Commissioners Chair Lavern Coleman, Barnhill Building Group Project Manager Kyle New and the Higher Education Practice Leader for McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture Jana Gottlieb. English thanked them for their leadership in starting SCC’s new expansion onto the 78-acre farmland.
“This will go on forever,” English said. “Twenty years from now, this will be full of activity and not just from the transportation building. Thank you for your continued support.”
Completing a full circle for N.C. Representative and Majority Leader Brenden Jones, he said that having been a student at SCC, having served on the Board of Trustees and having appropriated funding for the Transportation Technology/STEM Facility, it has been a humbling experience for him.
“Southeastern Community College has never had an advocate like Chris English, and he has made more trips to Raleigh than any president I’ve heard about in my tenure,” Jones said. “He and his team are the reason for all the growth seen here on campus.”
With several years of work experience in the automotive industry, Jones and English said they knew the importance of growing a skilled workforce that could meet the demands for Columbus County’s future. Jones said that everywhere from Wilmington to Raleigh will be looking at SCC for providing automotive systems technicians.
“We’ll be setting the bar way higher than anyone around us,” Jones said. “The staff and faculty of SCC – what an awesome job you’re doing. I’ve always said that the cornerstone of economic development is education.”
McMillan Pazdan Smith’s Gottlieb explained that being able to see the new transportation facility from U.S. 74 is “huge” for the campus in expanding visibility. She is looking forward to seeing what is built between the transportation facility and the rest of campus.
“We’re not just building this building for today,” Barnhill’s project manager New said. “It’s for generations to come, and a strong future starts with a solid foundation. That’s what we do.”
Ibreta Jackson, SCC’s Vice President of Administrative Services, closed out the ceremony by thanking her team, the engineers and contractors and the community member support for SCC’s transportation technology expansion. She plans on inviting everyone back to campus in 18 months for the facility’s ribbon cutting ceremony.
“It’s wonderful because I’ve been waiting for this day for three years,” said Johnny O’Connell, SCC Automotive System’s Technology instructor. “I’m ecstatic to finally see it come to fruition.”
SCC’s other Automotive Systems Technology instructor David Higgins echoed O’Connell’s thoughts on seeing the construction process started. Higgins said he is ready to get inside the new facility and is looking forward to the automotive program’s growth at SCC.
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