Miles SmithPittsburg State University is building a $20 million facility to expand laboratory space on its campus in Pittsburg, Kansas, for students to train on heavy equipment, including diesel engines, hydraulic systems, powertrains, electrical and electronic systems and hybrid and electric vehicles.
Preliminary designs are complete and architectural plans will be finalized in 2026, with construction set to begin that year and occupancy targeted for fall 2027.
The facility will be built north of the Crossland Technology Center, across the parking lot from the wing of the center that houses current Automotive Technology labs.
The university’s current facilities make it “nearly impossible” to simultaneously disassemble engines, transmissions and other components, faculty members said.
“It’s complex to fit everything into our available teaching space,” said Professor Tim Dell, who coordinates the university’s Diesel and Heavy Equipment program in the School of Automotive & Engineering Technology, noting that they work outdoors when weather allows and use shelving and shipping containers to rotate components in and out as needed for instruction.
“With these limitations, it is taxing on the faculty to deliver the absolute best instruction to students,” he added.
Dell said the new building will allow hybrids to move out of the two-year automotive service lab and to expand to meet future demand. When the diesel and heavy equipment moves, it will allow the collision program – currently in a cramped space – to expand.
Moving hydraulic trainers to the new facility will allow more students in the transmissions lab.
The spaces are used not just by Pitt State students, but also by the Kansas Center for Career Technical Education to offer instruction to Kansas teachers and industry personnel.
Phase 1 calls for a building of 20,200 square feet, which will establish nine hybrid electric vehicle laboratory bays. It will also create 10 adaptable heavy equipment bays that can serve diesel heavy engines, transmissions, hydraulic systems and machines.
Phase 2 calls for another 10,000 square feet and will include 16 heavy equipment bays.
The university is funding the project through a combination of private gifts and funding. An additional estimated $5 million in state and federal funding is being sought for the project, the university said.
Image by andreas160578 from Pixabay
