CCAC Celebrates Opening of New Center for Education, Innovation & Training
The event’s speakers and key players gathered to participate in the new center’s official ribbon-cutting.
PITTSBURGH
The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) hosted the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Center for Education, Innovation & Training at the CCAC Allegheny Campus on Thursday, Oct. 26. Local leaders, VIPs and the college community were on hand to celebrate the grand opening of the $43 million high-tech facility, the most recent dynamic example of CCAC's forward-looking vision. The Office of Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis issued a proclamation lauding CCAC for the opening of the new center and for the college's response to the region's present and future workforce needs. The proclamation also commended the college for providing quality education, affordable tuition with access to innovative academic programming, and the college's response to the region's workforce needs.
The 60,000-square-foot building will house a large-scale robotics lab with a fully functional advanced production line. The building is equipped with experiential classrooms and labs, advanced equipment from simulators to augmented reality tools, as well as a state-of-the-art culinary school. Programming in high-demand and emerging fields will be featured at the center, including 3D printing, additive and advanced manufacturing, baking and pastry arts, building automation systems, cybersecurity and network administration, computer numerical control machining, culinary arts, foodservice/restaurant management, information technology, machine learning, mechatronics, and robotics and automation.
"The new Center for Education, Innovation & Training at CCAC represents the college's long-standing commitment to preparing the region's workforce with the skills employers need now and in the future. We are investing in skills training for fast-growing occupations while promoting apprenticeships, partnerships and collaborations as we continue to rejuvenate the region's workforce and provide students with unlimited educational opportunities," said Dr. Quintin Bullock, CCAC president.
The new building is the cornerstone of CCAC's Pioneering Pittsburgh's New Workforce Campaign, the college's most successful capital campaign since its founding in 1966. Construction began on the site Nov. 1, 2021. To date, the initial $65 million campaign goal has been surpassed, with a total of $90 million in commitments from all sources.
In addition to the new facility, funds raised will support capital projects and workforce programming across the college. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania contributed $20 million toward a $40 million bond issue for the project, and both Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives made significant commitments. In addition, CCAC raised more than $31 million in private donations from corporations, foundations and individuals, including lead commitments from BNY Mellon and Highmark Health. Other seven-figure gifts have been received from Allegheny Foundation, Colcom Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Hillman Foundation, Jack Buncher Foundation, McElhattan Foundation, Peoples, Pitt Ohio, PNC and Richard King Mellon Foundation. Additional significant commitments have been made by Allegheny Technologies, Buhl Foundation, Duquesne Light, Eden Hall Foundation, Federated Investors Foundation Inc., Giant Eagle, Jefferson Regional Foundation, Johnson Controls, Massey Charitable Trust, Pittsburgh Foundation, PPG Foundation and Tull Family Foundation.
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