Investment in career and technical education facilities continues to expand as school districts seek to strengthen workforce pipelines for high-demand industries. The new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center planned for Orange County High School is designed to increase student access to skilled trades, healthcare and technology training while supporting long-term workforce development in central Virginia.
Gilbane has broken ground on a new CTE Center for Orange County Public Schools as part of a design-build contract valued at approximately $22 million.
The facility will be constructed on the Orange County High School campus and will consolidate multiple technical education programs into a purpose-built learning environment. Instructional offerings will include nursing, agriculture, robotics, culinary arts, cybersecurity, automotive technology, HVAC, carpentry and masonry.
Once completed, the center will accommodate about 200 students during each instructional block and between 400 and 600 students throughout the school day, replacing older instructional spaces with a centralized facility.
Gilbane is delivering the project through a design-build partnership with RRMM Architects and Timmons Group.
Construction activities will be coordinated to allow the high school campus to remain operational throughout the project while maintaining student safety and minimizing disruptions to daily school operations.
The completed facility is intended to support career preparation in healthcare, skilled trades, advanced manufacturing and technology fields.
Demand for skilled construction and technical workers continues to challenge employers across the United States. Investments in career and technical education facilities help expand local talent pipelines by providing students with industry-focused training before graduation. For construction owners and contractors, projects such as the Orange County CTE Center represent continued public investment in workforce development and educational infrastructure.
Source: Gilbane.
