GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – NWTC’s Transportation Center is the first brand new building constructed on the campus in more than ten years.
Trucks, cars, new equipment and lots of space. It’s everything NWTC automotive technician instructor Mark Ledvina tells FOX 11 is everything he wanted for his classroom.
“It took a lot of planning to get to this stage and now we’re excited to teach classes here.”
Ledvina added that there is a “huge industry need, the demand for auto technician, auto collision, media heavy duty truck and heavy equipment is great, so as we have a need for more technician, we need more space in order to do that.”
Officials say in the next two years, the college expects to graduate 62 students in the auto and diesel programs.
They say right now, companies have more than 290 openings in those fields in the college’s district.
“We do everything from transmission overhauls, to break work, to steering, suspension, alignments. When students transition from school to work, it’s going to be a really smooth transition for them,” said Ledvina.
Instructors said the new facility allows them to oversee students better.
Auto collision refinish instructor James Zuege….
“The old collision shop was just a little disjointed, the shop was set up sort of like an ‘L’ so it was really hard for us to see the entire class.”
Zuege said the previous building layout hindered the students learning and work, but with the new complex, he’s hopeful for a better work flow.
“This is how it is in the real world, most shops or progressive shops are getting to look like this and having this style of equipment.”
Voters approved the $66.5 million for the Transportation Center as part of the college’s 2015 referendum.
Students began using the new facility in August.
