Wake Technical Community College Constructs General Education Building

Wake Technical Community College is constructing the $72.4 million General Education Building in Wendell, N.C. Designed by BSA LifeStructures, the 118,000-sf facility will offer active learning classrooms, science labs, a library, an auditorium, tutoring areas, study spaces, and a food service venue. Supporting associate degree programs in engineering, science, and art, the welcoming and inclusive structure will also provide an array of student services including admissions, advising, and financial aid. The biophilic development will feature a double-height student commons illuminated by natural light, as well as a monumental stair with a multistory green wall. Targeting Green Globes certification, the highly sustainable building is expected to achieve a 33 percent reduction in carbon emissions over the ASHRAE 90.1-2013 baseline. The project team includes general contractor Monteith Construction and engineering consultants Lynch Mykins, SEPI, and McKim & Creed. Occupancy is expected in fall of 2024.

The General Education Building is one of four facilities that will anchor the Eastern Wake 4.0 Campus, a vibrant destination for experiential learning in fields ranging from computer science to smart manufacturing. Slated for completion in summer of 2024, the Public Safety Simulation Complex will provide an immersive 4D training village for first responders. The Technology 4.0 building will accommodate programs in biopharmaceutical production, intelligent automation, robotics, smart manufacturing, microelectronics, and drone operations and repair when it opens in spring of 2025. Lastly, the Fire and Rescue Training Center will equip students with the crucial skills needed for challenging public service careers. All four structures will be supplied by a central energy plant that will be completed in late spring of 2023. Integrating an apprenticeship training hub to support industry partnerships with firms such as Siemens, the sustainably designed plant will leverage connections to geothermal wells and photovoltaic installations to optimize energy performance.