Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center
The project for the Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center included the renovation of the existing 98,320 s.f. building and constructing 55,360 s.f. of additions to accommodate the vocational programs. The building had been operating as a full-day comprehensive high school for grades 11–12. To better serve the students from the three sending school districts, the planned school building renovations and additions were designed for grades 10–12 operating as a half-day program. A half-day program allows the students to participate in their sending school’s advanced placement courses and various electives as well as extracurricular activities. Program offerings, either added or refreshed, have been implemented to provide students with hands-on knowledge to support the local workforce after graduation.
The existing building was originally built in 1966 with an addition constructed in 1975. The sequencing of the project began with the construction of the new automotive wing along the entire back side of the building plus a complete replacement of the existing roof. Upon completion of the first phase, the existing automotive programs within the building were relocated to the newly constructed wing. This allowed the automotive areas in the existing building to be renovated into other program areas thereby creating more swing space in the existing building for further renovations.
Program enhancements included a new transportation wing featuring collision repair and automotive technology, and heavy equipment/ diesel technology (new program); construction trades cluster including carpentry, electromechanical technology, metal technology and HVAC lab; commercial arts cluster with environmental design; hospitality cluster including the culinary arts lab and a restaurant; and public services cluster serving early childhood education and daycare, cosmetology and dental lab (new program), and protective services, health careers academy and health science technology. Academically, social studies is offered as well as allied health and computer information systems and all labs have supporting theory rooms adjacent to them for classroom instruction.