Engineering Building Construction
Lakeland Community College successfully expanded and renovated its Engineering Technologies building, a strategic move that ensured job training aligned with employer needs in advanced manufacturing and applied engineering. This project modernized most of the building's existing space—which had remained unchanged for 38 years—and provided the necessary capacity for Lakeland to implement new programming and fulfill previously unmet regional demand. During this period, market factors indicated a critical need for educated, entry-level manufacturing employees, a demand this facility was specifically designed to meet.
The initiative benefited from robust local workforce support, including partnerships with the Lake Development Authority, Lake County Workforce Development Board, Geauga Growth Partnership, the Alliance for Working Together (AWT), and numerous area manufacturing companies. Furthermore, the project positioned Lakeland graduates to capitalize on the massive economic opportunities generated by Ohio's Intel plant and its surrounding supplier network.
Financially, the project was anchored by a $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) to renovate the Industrial Skills Training Center for Advanced Manufacturing. This investment was matched with $3.1 million in local funds and was expected to create or retain over 900 jobs while contributing $5.2 million in private matching investment. In total, the $20 million project was funded through a combination of state capital appropriations, the EDA award, and college debt financing.
The design process was a collaborative effort involving Lakeland's engineering advisory committees, faculty, lab instructors, and student representatives. Their input led to expanded labs, improved teaching adjacencies, and the resolution of long-standing overcrowding and safety issues. Construction began in Spring 2024, beginning with the expansion of the south entry for a new lobby and student collaboration space, alongside the expansion of industrial labs on the southwest side of the building. Construction ended in Sept. 2025.