-->

Metropolitan Community College to break ground on new Engineering Technology building

By Madison Parry

The college’s Penn Valley Campus will begin development of a new Engineering Technology building with a groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow on Tuesday, Oct. 6, the project to include renovation of existing space and expected to finish by fall 2021.

Tomorrow, Metropolitan Community College’s Penn Valley campus will upturn the first shovels-full of dirt where a completed Engineering Technology building will sit next year.

In a 1 p.m. groundbreaking ceremony to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 6, the event will mark the beginning of development for Penn Valley campus’ newest project, a $7.2 million Engineering Technology addition to connect with the campus’ Carter Art Center and the Physical Education building.

Designed by Hollis + Miller Architects and with McCownGordon Construction as general contractor, the project will include renovation of existing space and is expected to finish by fall 2021, according to a news release from Metropolitan Community College.

Plans for the new two-story facility include containing classrooms and labs, MCC’s FabLab maker space, an outdoor covered work yard for large (or dirty) FabLab projects, a 3-D printing lab and the Burns & McDonnell Design Innovation Lab, according to the release.

“This new space is just another sign of Metropolitan Community College’s commitment to training the Kansas City workforce,” Chancellor Kimberly Beatty said.

Once complete, the college’s current engineering technology program will be relocated from Metropolitan Community College’s Business & Technology campus.

“We’re excited that MCC-Penn Valley will have this new, modern space for the College’s ETEC program and for other programs and community use,” Metropolitan Community College Penn Valley President Tyjaun Lee said in the release. “It will reflect the cutting-edge nature and constant innovation you see in the world of engineering technology.”