College Breaks Ground on Advanced Technology Center | Wake Tech
WENDELL, N.C. (June 18, 2024) – Just weeks before Wake Tech East welcomes students for the first time, Wake Tech's newest location is advancing quickly, with plans for another instructional building. On Tuesday, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a three-story, $60 million Advanced Technology Center.
A Look Inside the New Technology Center
The Advanced Technology Center will house Wake Tech's Biopharmaceutical Technology degree program. This will offer a real-life simulated biopharma work environment focusing on upstream fermentation and downstream purification processes. Additionally, a Systems Integration Lab will feature robotics, mechatronics, and advanced manufacturing equipment supporting Industry 4.0 technologies.
Specialized Training for Future Jobs
"This new facility will provide the specialized training that pharmaceutical companies and other industries need in this area and throughout Wake County," said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. "Students trained in the Advanced Technology Center will have a competitive advantage as they learn the skills local employers demand."
Wake Tech East: Opening Soon
Wake Tech East is scheduled to open for classes in August, offering degrees in:
- Associate in Arts
- Associate in Science
- Associate in Engineering
- Emergency Medical Science Associate in Applied Science
Open House Event
A special Open House and tours are planned for June 29, from 9 a.m. to noon. Anyone interested in enrolling for the Fall semester can attend.
Education and Innovation Center
Initially, all classes will take place in the Education and Innovation Center, which includes:
- Smart classrooms
- State-of-the-art chemistry and physics labs
- An auditorium
- A library
- A tutoring center
There are also student gathering spaces and dining options.
Public Safety Simulation Complex
Wake Tech East features a unique Public Safety Simulation Complex. It includes a 4D immersive streetscape for training first responders from Wake County and beyond. This is the state's most realistic simulated village for force-on-force training, with EMS ambulance bays and a driver training track that supports emergency vehicle and pursuit training.
Construction and Future Plans
The Advanced Technology Center was designed by Lord Aeck Sargent and is being built by Monteith Construction. Completion is projected by the end of next year for a spring 2026 opening. Future plans for Wake Tech East include collaborations with Elizabeth City State University to offer Aviation and Unmanned Aircraft Systems programs and East Carolina University to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology.
