PARKERSBURG - West Virginia University at Parkersburg celebrated the opening of its Applied Technology Center Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
College President Marie Foster Gnage was joined by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, West Virginia Community and Technical College System Chancellor James Skidmore, WVU-P Board of Governors Chair Jamie Six and representatives of U.S. Rep. David B. McKinley and Senator Joe Manchin.
"This is not the largest of the applied technology centers in the state, but we have the largest intentions," Gnage said. "This is an important facility for this college."
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Photo by Michael Erb
President Marie Foster Gnage speaks Friday at the unveiling of West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s new Applied Technology Center. The college held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of the $5 million complex.
Planning for the new building began three years ago and construction on the project began 10 months ago.
Tomblin said the school represents a state-wide effort to bring businesses and development to West Virginia.
"We know we've got good, hard-working people in our state," he said. "What we need is the skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow."
The $5 million applied technology building replaces the college's 40-year-old technology wing. It will accommodate welding technology, industrial maintenance and multi-craft technology classes. The 21,000-square-foot building will house four classrooms, 20 welding booths and an industrial maintenance lab for hands-on learning and four faculty offices.
The college also is building a $1 million child development center on its campus. The facility will focus on arts, literacy, culture and technology to teach children beyond the traditional classroom environment. The development center is scheduled to be finished in September.
