Tunxis Community College announced a new building has been purchased adjacent to campus which will become the college’s new Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center.

The 44,000-square-foot former manufacturing building, built in 1968, was purchased by the state of CT on January 31 for $1.3 million, and sits on six acres at 21 Spring Lane in Farmington.

Tunxis plans to renovate 10,000 square feet of the building initially for the college’s advanced manufacturing technology programs, which will expand the college’s manufacturing classroom and lab space, create training opportunities for advanced manufacturing, and allow room for future program growth.

“The programs within this center prepare Tunxis students for high-skilled careers in as little as 30 weeks, which helps address critical workforce needs for skilled graduates in CT and strengthens our state’s economy,” said Dr. James Lombella, North-West regional president of the Connecticut Community Colleges.

“This expansion of the Tunxis campus has generated substantial excitement in the surrounding community, especially among our industry partners,” added Dr. Darryl Reome, Tunxis campus CEO. “The new facility will give us the space needed to have more machinery on-site for our own advanced manufacturing lab, and provide room for expanding student enrollment and new potential manufacturing programs.”

Launched in fall 2018, the Tunxis machine technology and electro-mechanical maintenance technology programs have already doubled in enrollment despite space limitations which the new center will address. These programs will continue to run in existing space until the center opens for classes.

A groundbreaking for the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center is planned this spring. Once an architect is selected, renovations to meet classroom requirements will begin this summer, with an anticipated opening in spring 2021. Some of the facility and grounds updates will include replacing the roof and HVAC rooftop units, renovating restrooms to meet ADA code, installing sidewalks, and parking lot repairs.

Tunxis is one of eight community college Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centers throughout Connecticut. Tunxis certificates and associate degrees in advanced manufacturing technology are all stackable credentials, and enable students to transfer as juniors to Central Connecticut State University through the CT College of Technology (COT).

The advanced manufacturing technology certificate program is offered on a part-time or full-time basis, and costs approximately $4,500 a semester including materials, tuition and fees. Advanced manufacturing programs have internships or apprenticeships available, as well as financial aid and veterans benefits for those who qualify.

Tunxis Community College, which is celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2020, originally opened its doors in Farmington in October 1970 with 494 students. Through the decades, the college has continued to expand to accommodate its growing student population and community needs, with current campus square footage of approximately 336,000 including the new building, and additional square footage of 10,903 adjacent to campus and in leased space in Bristol.

Today the College serves approximately 10,000 credit and non-credit students each year and offers more than 70 associate degrees and certificates, including 27 with manufacturing, science, engineering, math, and technology emphases. Tunxis is also the recipient of a $2.4 million National Science Foundation grant that established the COT’s Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing, an NSF Center of Excellence. A collaboration among Connecticut’s community colleges and partner universities, the COT provides seamless career pathways for students to earn certificates, associate of science and bachelor’s degrees in engineering and technology disciplines with no loss of credit upon transfer.

For more information on programs at Tunxis, call 860.773.1490, or visit tunxis.edu. More information on the college’s advanced manufacturing technology programs is available at tunxis.edu/makeit.

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services is responsible for the design and construction of major capital building projects (except highways and bridges) for most state agencies, leasing and acquisitions statewide, and facility management, maintenance and security of state buildings in the greater Hartford area.