Access to technical training facilities is an important part of developing the workforce needed for construction, manufacturing and related industries. W. M. Jordan Company has completed two educational construction projects designed to expand instructional capacity and support career-focused training in Virginia and North Carolina.
The projects include a new trades training centre for Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC) in Newport News and an expansion of Cape Fear Community College’s A.D. “Zander” Guy Building. The facilities provide dedicated spaces for practical instruction, technical education and workforce development programs.
The projects were highlighted by W. M. Jordan during Construction Inclusion Week 2026, which focuses on improving access to opportunities across the construction industry.
In Newport News, W. M. Jordan provided design-build services for VPCC’s 16,100-square-foot Trades Center. The facility includes classrooms, hands-on workshops, offices, common areas and a lobby. Training areas support instruction in welding, marine electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, plumbing and other skilled trades.
The centre's downtown location places it near maritime and manufacturing employers, providing geographic proximity between technical education and regional industries that require skilled workers.
In Wilmington, North Carolina, W. M. Jordan added 10,781 square feet to Cape Fear Community College’s A.D. “Zander” Guy Building. The expansion includes four general-purpose classrooms, two specialized laboratories for economic and workforce development training, and a biology and chemistry laboratory with adjacent preparation rooms.
Additional offices, restrooms, mechanical rooms and support areas were incorporated into the expanded facility to accommodate instructional and operational needs.
The two projects demonstrate how educational construction can support the infrastructure needed to prepare workers for technical occupations. Their combination of classroom space, specialized laboratories and practical training areas provides institutions with facilities for delivering career-oriented programs.
For construction owners and contractors, investments in workforce education are relevant to the long-term availability of skilled labour. Community colleges and trade schools provide structured pathways for students to develop technical capabilities before entering the workforce.
Why It Matters
W. M. Jordan’s projects add instructional capacity at two community colleges serving different regional markets. By creating dedicated spaces for skilled-trades and technical education, the facilities support workforce development efforts that can benefit construction, manufacturing and other industries requiring trained personnel.
Source: W.M. jordon.
