HAMPTON — One of the construction projects at Virginia Peninsula Community College, the renovation of the Mary T. Christian Theatre, was unveiled Jan. 10, but there are more in the works.
Finishing touches are being applied to the new VPCC Southeast Newport News Trades Center. College officials expect to have the certificate of occupancy Feb. 23 and start classes there in March.
About two-thirds of the 16,000-square-foot facility will accommodate maritime skills training and the other one-third construction trades training.
“We’re really excited about that significant expansion of our facilities for training,” said Todd Estes, vice president of Workforce Development and Innovation, who noted the facility is less than one mile from the front gates of Newport News Shipbuilding.
Estes added Southeast Newport News residents “will significantly benefit from accessible training, eliminating transportation barriers for those who may have them.” He also said the facility is “a great connector” between those residents and employment.
There certainly is a desire for more training as Workforce Development classes at the college have grown by 20% each of the past two years, according to Estes.
The demolition of Diggs, Moore and Harrison halls should be done in April, with the target date for the opening of the replacement building, to be known as the Academic and Student Success Center, in fall 2028.
“That is going to be a beautiful asset to our college. We’re really excited about that,” Estes said. “From a facility standpoint, we have a lot to be excited about.”
For more information on the college, visit vpcc.edu.
