Transportation Technologies Center

TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE - HARLINGEN

New academic building for automotive and diesel equipment training.

Location: Harlingen, TX

Size: 86,200 GSF GSF

Delivery Method: CMAR

Construction Type: New Construction

Challenge

Texas State Technical College needed a new training facility to support increasing demand for workforce training in automotive and heavy-duty diesel systems. The college also wanted a facility that could easily accommodate future curriculum changes as local workforce demands changed.

Solution

Keeping flexibility at the forefront, we designed a new two-story, high-bay instructional facility with 33 percent more classroom capacity than its predecessor building. The open lab spaces and workshop bays are free of permanent walls, so spaces can be more readily reconfigured as curricula and equipment change. The building structure can support additional structural bays as enrollment increases. An outdoor instructional area further extends training beyond the classroom, supporting practical, industry-based exercises.

To enhance learning opportunities, virtual reality training environments allow students to engage with equipment not physically available on-site. Through guided exercises and proficiency testing, instructors can monitor progress in real time, adding a layer of flexibility to the hands-on experience.