WTC newly expanded lab nearly ready

Major programs coming back
to downtown campus

Solar power and geothermal heating are helping Western Tech College stay up to date in a newly expanded laboratory building.

Finishing touches are being put on the Integrated Technology Center downtown, which is scheduled to be full by the fall semester.

Facilities director Jay McHenry says that means bringing back some training programs that had been moved off campus for space reasons.

“So right now you’ll see a little bit of activity that’s wrapping up loose details of construction,” McHenry said, “but the preparations are being made now for when we move back the major programs of woods and welding.

The ITC is now twice the size of the building that has been on that location for about 40 years.

ITC dean Josh Garner says many areas of career training should benefit from the changes.

“Now we have rooms that didn’t exist before,” ITC dean at WTC Josh Garner said. “We have labs that are larger. Labs that are better equipped. Labs that are more current and more up to date with the industry standard.”