Southeastern Community College celebrated a major milestone in its campus expansion on Jan. 27, signing and raising the final steel beam for its new Transportation Technology/STEM Building. Despite cold temperatures, state leaders, trustees, college officials, architects, construction crews, instructors, and staff gathered for the topping ceremony, which marks a key step toward the building’s expected completion in October.
“This is an awesome way to commemorate the occasion,” SCC President Dr. Chris English said as he thanked Rep. Brenden Jones and Sen. Bill Rabon for their continued support. “This is your building, and you’ve invested in this and in Columbus County.”
The $22 million, 21,000‑square‑foot facility will house SCC’s Automotive Systems Technology, Diesel Training, and Truck Driver Training programs. Plans include modern classrooms, climate‑controlled labs, a commercial driver’s license training area, a Dyno lab, and space for emerging technologies such as electric vehicle diagnostics. The building is designed to mirror today’s advanced automotive service centers, giving students hands‑on experience in a real‑world environment.
English said the ceremony also marked an exciting moment for the project’s design and construction partners. “This means the project is moving forward, and we’re very excited for that,” he said.
SCC Board of Trustees Chair Joe Hooks credited past and current trustees for helping bring the project to life. He said the new facility will play a critical role in preparing the region’s next generation of automotive and truck‑driving professionals.
“We’re moving on to a new campus here, and this is the first step in expanding our campus,” Hooks said. “We’re helping make Southeastern Community College become what it needs to be for our community and the well‑being of our citizens.”
Rep. Jones praised the project as a major investment in the county’s future workforce, noting that students trained in the new facility will have opportunities to earn high wages. He called the building “like no other” in eastern North Carolina and said it will draw students from across the region.
Sen. Rabon reflected on his own connection to SCC. “I took my first college course right here at Southeastern Community College in 1967,” he said. “I am proud of what Southeastern has become and what it will do with this new facility.”
Representatives from McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture and Barnhill Construction also spoke during the ceremony, expressing excitement about the project’s progress and the teamwork behind it.
After attendees signed the beam, it was lifted into place atop the building’s structural frame. With construction scheduled to wrap up in October, SCC expects to welcome students into the new facility for the spring 2027 semester.
For information about enrolling in programs that will be housed in the new building, contact SCC Student Services at 910‑788‑6247.
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