Etowah County: East Broad, Valley Street and Wallace Drive campuses in Gadsden, Ala.
Capital Improvements at Gadsden State
ABOVE: GSCC held a Legislator Appreciation tour of the Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Skills Training Center in August 2023.
Over the years, Gadsden State Community College has undergone a series of transformative renovations and capital investments that have not only revamped its physical landscape but have also enriched the learning environment for students.
“It has been a remarkable journey so far, and we’re not done yet,” said Dr. Kathy Murphy, president. “The power of the investments being made by Gadsden State in local education and community development is making a great impact on our students and our region.”
In February 2023, Gadsden State broke ground for the Advanced Manufacturing and Workforce Skills Training Center, a 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility on the East Broad Campus.
“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 Alan Smith, dean of Workforce Development. “It was a day for us to be thankful and appreciative; a day of celebration. The groundbreaking marked the beginning of a new era, where innovation and collaboration shape the future.”
The facility will feature 10 laboratories, seven classrooms, 11 offices, a multipurpose room, 10 tool and storage rooms, a storm shelter, a testing suite, a kitchen and serving area, a break room and six restroom areas. It will also feature glass viewing areas that allow prospective students and industry partners to have laboratory visibility during tours; a safety entrance for students loading and unloading from cars and buses; and a digital display with information for job seekers and industry partners.
“This facility provides modern, state-of-the-art space for students to train for high-tech careers that are in high demand with high wages,” Smith said. “We will be able to 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.”
The anticipated completion date is late-April 2024.
On Oct. 2, Gadsden State students and employees alongside members of The Chamber celebrated the renovations of Helderman Hall and Bevill Hall on the Wallace Drive Campus with a ribbon cutting.
LEFT: Dr. Cynthia Mullinax talks about improvements to Helderman Hall after a ribbon cutting for renovations to the building.
“The ribbon cutting was a great day for Gadsden State and its health science programs,” said Dr. Joey Battles, dean of Health Sciences. “It’s always great to do things for our students. These renovations and upgrades are all about our students.”
Renovations and upgrades include over $1.4 million in new program equipment, replacement of the heating and cooling systems, new student study spaces, two new student lounges with new furniture, a new student practice lab for Nursing, new signage, new office spaces for medical directors and adjunct faculty, additional mini-library spaces, two testing labs, three testing spaces, new exterior lighting and updated elevators and restrooms.
Helderman Hall houses Gadsden State’s Nursing Program and Emergency Medical Services while Bevill is home to the Radiography Program and the Medical Laboratory Technology Program.
Also, in October, Gadsden State Community College cut a ribbon to signify the opening of a newly-renovated cafeteria on its Wallace Drive Campus. The event was co-hosted with The Chamber.
Renovations and upgrades at the cafeteria, known as Cardinal Café, include seating for 100, new heating and cooling systems, new window walls, fresh paint and décor, new televisions, an employee dining hall and a separate room that can seat 72 for meetings, student gatherings and special events.
RIGHT: Gadsden State Alumni Association Board President Heather New, former Director of Alumni and Advancement John Roberson and Cardinal Foundation President Tommie Goggans III pose with a ceremonial check at the Cardinal Café ribbon cutting.
The Cardinal Foundation, a support organization that provides opportunities for students at Gadsden State, raised almost $31,000 in donations to purchase new furniture for the renovated space.
“The Cardinal Foundation is all-in when it comes to providing opportunities for our students and for our College,” said Tommie Goggans III, president of the foundation. “We want to make sure our students have positive experiences while attending Gadsen State. Providing them with spaces that are nice, safe and conducive to a positive collegiate experience is a priority for us.”
Additional signs of growth and upgrades include the renovations of Naylor Hall on the Wallace Drive Campus, Prater Hall on the Valley Street Campus and the Learning Resource Center on the Ayers Campus. Outdoor classrooms were constructed at the Valley Street Campus and the Ayers Campus. Renovations on the Inzer Student Center and Meadows Library will be completed this year with renovations beginning on the classrooms at Wallace Hall.
Murphy commends Gadsden State students, employees, local political officials, college supporters and business leaders for ensuring that the College continues to grow and prosper in its pursuit to educate and train the area’s workforce.
“The groundbreaking, ribbon cuttings, new construction and renovations are evidence of the great work going on at Gadsden State,” she said. “There are many thought leaders working together to make great things happen at Gadsden State.”
For more information about Gadsden State and the many opportunities available in career tech, health sciences, academic, skills training and adult education, visit GadsdenState.edu.
