2024 - ECC Breaks Ground on New 150,000-square-foot Manufacturing and Technology Center

On Wednesday, September 18, Elgin Community College (ECC) held a groundbreaking ceremony at 1600 Spartan Drive for its new two-story, 150,000-square-foot Manufacturing and Technology Center (MTC). This state-of-the-art facility will be the second-largest public community college manufacturing center in Illinois and will provide expanded programs in manufacturing, technology, and other critical fields.

MTC represents a significant investment in the future of ECC and the region. The approximately $85 million project includes $28.5 million in state appropriations for Fiscal Year 25 through capital funds. Lamp Incorporated is the construction management company, and DLA Architects is the architecture firm behind the facility’s design. Phase 1 of the construction project is anticipated to begin in mid-November of this year. The center is expected to open in fall 2026 as a hub for innovation and workforce development.

New and updated programs that will be offered in the new facility are: 

• Industrial process control
• Mechatronics
• Pipe welding
• Renewable energy
• Robotics and automation

The new Manufacturing and Technology Center will offer expanded instructional space, with more labs and classrooms. ECC’s current labs in Building O occupy 17,000 square feet, while the new center will span 59,000 square feet. Building O currently houses 10 classrooms and eight large instructional labs. In comparison, the MTC will feature 13 classrooms, nine large instructional labs, and 11 medium-sized instructional labs.

MTC will expand opportunities for the Department of Labor (DOL) apprenticeships, providing employers with access to a larger pool of talented and skilled workers and pathways to advanced manufacturing careers for K-12 students in District 509.

Event speakers included ECC Interim President Peggy Heinrich, EdD, ECC Board of Trustees Chair Donna Redmer, EdD, Cathy Taylor, dean of sustainability, business, and career technologies, and local legislators Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), Sen. Don DeWitte (R-Elgin), and Rep. Anna Moeller (D-Elgin). Attendees included the city of Elgin and Kane County officials, employees, students, and business partners.

“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome everyone to the groundbreaking event today. This has been a long time coming, about six years in the making for us,” said Peggy Heinrich, ECC interim president. “We want to serve as a resource and pipeline, ensuring that manufacturers in our district have a trained workforce. We also want to ensure that we are providing an affordable education and that we get our district’s residents working good jobs quickly. Our mission is to improve people’s lives through learning, and that’s what we’re going to do in this facility.” 

“This project represents the future of workforce education in the greater Elgin area, preparing students to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry,” said Cathy Taylor, dean of sustainability, business, and career technologies. She also added that as interest in the current manufacturing programs grew, students were placed on wait lists each semester.

Taylor noted that many students enrolled in ECC’s manufacturing programs are non-traditional students — working adults, business owners, or individuals with families — who are looking to expand their skills. “Our students want more,” she said. “They want to be exposed to the latest technological advancements because that’s what they face in the real world.”

Castro, an ECC alum and former employee, expressed pride in the project’s impact on the community. 

“This is a long time coming,” she said. “This is my home. This is important to me, and I see all these students here who will benefit, and I am proud and honored to be all ECC, alum, a colleague, and a champion for higher education down in Springfield.” 

“Manufacturing and technology are not just pillars of our economy, but they are vital to Illinois's future,” DeWitte said. “By expanding this program in these areas, ECC is positioning itself as a leader for the next generation of skilled professionals.

“With approximately 14,000 manufacturers in the state of Illinois, the demand for skilled talent has never been greater,” DeWitte said. “The training provided by ECC's new center will make those with degrees and certificates highly competitive in the job market, fulfilling that significant gap that will be left by evolving technology and retiring baby boomers. As we mark this significant milestone, I'm proud to see ECC leading the charge in workforce growth.”

Moeller underscored the broader impact of the center.

“Through this center, students will have the tools that they need to succeed in high-demand fields, creating a ripple effect that benefits the entire community,” she said.

For more information about the ECC Manufacturing and Technology Center, visit elgin.edu/mtc. B-roll is available for download here.