Alabama 25, December 13, 2023

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December 13 2023

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According to Vince Richardson, superintendent of contractor MJ Harris Co., “Unsuitable soils were the largest challenge on the site.”

In east Alabama, Gadsden State Community College is overseeing construction of its $24 million Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Skills Training Center. The highly anticipated facility is being built on the East Broad campus.

“We are nurturing the next generation of engineers, technicians and skilled workers who will produce high quality, cutting-edge products,” said Alan Smith, dean of workforce development of Gadsden State.

“The Center is more than just a facility. It’s a catalyst for community transformation. It will equip individuals with skills, create jobs and propel the local economy. We’re not just buildGoodwyn Mills Cawood rendering ing a skilled workforce. We are building a stronger, more resilient community. It’s the corGadsden State Community College is overseeing construction of its $24 million nerstone of growth, innovation and shared success.”

By Cindy Riley

CEG CORRESPONDENT

Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Skills Training Center.

see CENTER page 2

Page 2 • December 13, 2023 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Unsuitable Soils Present Challenge for Training Center Crew CENTER from page 1

of the project.

“The groundbreaking was an exciting beginning to what is sure to be a facility that will be a huge benefit to the communities we serve,” said Smith. “It was a day for us to be thankful and appreciative. It marked the beginning of a new era, where innovation and collaboration shape the future.

With determination, vision and a united community, we are paving the way for progress and prosperity in our region.”

According to Vince Richardson, superintendent of contractor MJ Harris Co., “Unsuitable soils were the largest challenge on the site. Virtually the entire site was bad dirt, and we had to undercut it five to eight feet across six acres.

This was a coordination challenge, with weather events and local traffic that surrounds the site.”

The job has involved moving 60,000 cu. yds. of import and export material. In addition to unsuitable soil removal and the haul in of new fill dirt, all underground site utility work has been completed.

“Currently, crews are installing the road base to begin curb and gutter work, and then asphalt paving for roads and parking areas,” said Richardson. “The construction and sequence of the different structural elements of the building have been the most challenging portions because there were four different parties involved with the building actually coming out of the ground. We had the slab on grade, structural steel, CMU block and hollow core panels that all create the structure of the building.”

Richardson said coordinating the different trades to maintain a steady flow of work was the most difficult part, because each played a crucial part in allowing the next team

Site preparation and coordination is crucial to performing the work efficiently and safely.

Smith noted that feedback has been extremely positive.

“We’ve gotten a great response from many people in our community, specifically from industry leaders who will benefit from workers trained at the center. Investing in this center ensures that our local industries will remain competitive because we are providing them with workers who are equipped with skills that are needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving global market.”

The 50,000 sq.-ft. building will include 10 laboratories, seven classrooms, almost a dozen offices, a multipurpose room, 10 tool and storage rooms, a storm shelter, a testing suite, a kitchen and break room. It will feature glass viewing areas that allow prospective students and industry partners to have lab visibility during tours and will offer a digital display with information for job seekers.

The facility was identified as a needed project through the ACCS ASPIRE (Achieving Systemwide Potential through Increased Resources and Engagement) 2030 initiative, which provides funding for facility upgrades and new construction for all levels of education in Alabama.

In a news release, Gadsden State president Kathy Murphy said, “ASPIRE 2030 called on us to be creative, innovative and aspirational. It required us to think outside the box. Then, we burned that box, so we don’t put ourselves back in it.

“Gadsden State is proud of the engagement we had with local business and community partners in determining that we had a critical need for a facility that will provide our region with training in several high-demand, high-wage fields.”

Approximately 200 people attended the February launch

The facility was identified as a needed project through the ACCS ASPIRE (Achieving Systemwide Potential through Increased Resources and Engagement) 2030 initiative.

All underground site utility work has now been completed.

see CENTER page 6

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • December 13, 2023 • Page 3

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Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • December 13, 2023 • Page 5

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Crews Import, Export 60,000 Cu. Yds. of Soil for School CENTER from page 2

For MJ Harris Co. the job is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution.

to begin its work on time.

“Also, a majority of the lab spaces are exposed structures, which creates contrasting colors and materials that will remain seen all the way to the completion of the building.

This creates another challenge in ensuring that everything installed is of the utmost quality.”

While construction of the actual structure is the most timeconsuming part of the job, Richardson said site preparation and coordination is crucial to performing the work efficiently and safely.

“With the mass undercut, we had to flow the work around the site in a manner that not only allowed the site subcontractor to stay productive, but also allow other subcontractors to begin their scopes of work. There were multiple pieces of heavy equipment, along with eight to 12 dump trucks in and out of the site for 12 hours a day that had to be coordinated.

Ultimately, it was a success.”

Heavy machinery has included a dozer, smooth drum roller for base and a 210 excavator for backfill and removal of existing roadways. As for the weather, said Richardson, “Fortunately, we did not have a lot of major rain events during the early portions of construction, but as the months got warmer, the heat played a factor in productivity.”

For Richardson, the job is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution.

“I, as well as the company I work for, take great pride in knowing that something we did will have a lasting impact for many years to come — not only to the students and teachers, but the community as well.”

Smith added, “This facility provides a modern, state-ofthe-art space for students to train for high-tech careers that are in high demand with high wages. We will be able to

The job has involved moving 60,000 cu. yds. of import and export material.

expand our capacity so that we are able to serve more students. We will also be able to offer specific training that will support workforce development and economic development needs.

“We are modernizing our facilities and creating a training center that will create great change for technical dualenrolled students, traditional college students, adult learners and students who need non-degree, short-term training.”

The expected completion date is late April 2024.  CEG (All photos courtesy of MJ Harris Co., except where noted.)

State Builds $30M EV Training Center to Support Industry Growth Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Nov. 27 that the state is constructing a $30 million workforce training center in Decatur that will focus on electric vehicles (EV) and emerging technologies in order to help advance the growth of the state’s auto industry.

The new facility will be located on the campus of the Alabama Robotics Technology Park, a unique $73 million center operated by Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) that helps companies train workers on advanced R&D and manufacturing technologies.

“Alabama is already a recognized leader in workforce development, and this training center concentrating on EVs and new technologies will add an important dimension to our capabilities,” Ivey said. “This investment shows that we’re fully committed to making Alabama an even greater force in the global auto industry in the future.”

AIDT Director Ed Castile noted that design work has begun on the planned facility, which is projected to encompass 40,000 sq. ft. at Robotics Park, where there is room for growth on 40 available acres.

He said Montgomery-based Goodwyn Mills and Cawood (GMC), one of the Southeast’s largest architecture and engineering firms, is designing the new training center to be expandable and easy to reconfigure to meet future demands. GMC is familiar with the Robotics Park site, having previously worked on the three existing training buildings located there.

The proposed training center is expected to be operational in 18 to 24 months, according to Made in Alabama, the online news site for the state’s Department of Commerce.

“Our main goal is to help the state’s automakers continue to grow during the transition to electric powertrains and assist them as they embrace new technologies that are evolving all the time,” said Castile, who also serves as deputy secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“We just want to make sure we have workforce that has the ability to thrive in this new environment, so it’s a natural extension of what we do at Robotics Park,” he added.

AIDT and Commerce have been working

for some time on developing programs for the new training center, Made in Alabama noted, including making visits to EV battery factories in Japan and Europe. A technical committee composed of auto industry leaders and others also has been formed to offer guidance.

Additionally, a group of academic partners has been assembled as allies to advance the effort, including the Alabama Mobility and Power Center at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, the Alabama Community College System, and the state’s K-12 school system.

“The auto industry is being confronted by the strong headwinds of disruptive technologies today, and it’s vital that we’re prepared to help Alabama’s autoworkers adapt to the industry’s shifting directions,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the state’s Department of Commerce.

Plans for the training center come as Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai have launched production of EVs at their Alabama manufacturing plants, and companies in the EV battery supply chain also have begun locating in the state.

Made in Alabama noted that the activity is expected to accelerate amid massive industry EV investments.

Alabama’s Legislature approved funding for the new training center during its last session through a bill sponsored by state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur.

“Robotics Technology Park has long represented the gold standard for workforce training and a tremendous resource for Alabama and the companies that use it,” he explained. “That makes it the perfect home for this new facility focusing on advanced automotive technologies, which will ensure an important industry in our state will continue to thrive.”

Castile believes the EV training center will become a catalyst for auto industry growth in the state.

“Alabama’s status is really growing in the automotive industry, and workforce will be a key component as we try to keep up with and even get ahead of what’s going on in the industry. Everything we can come up that supports the development of our workforce is a step forward,” he added. “I’m confident this is going to be a huge step for us.” 

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • December 13, 2023 • Page 7

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