Hours after opening Wednesday, sparks were flying inside the new Workforce Training Center at Ozarks Technical Community College.
The new 21,600-square-foot building on the west side of the Springfield campus is home to 14 welding booths, a welding shop and a fully equipped classroom.
"It's a lot brighter," said Reza Gilman, an OTC student in the 20-week Industrial Welding Specialist program. "The more light you have, the better you can see the welds."
OTC recently constructed the no-frills building, which has cement floors, for $2.65 million to absorb programs previously housed at a Center for Workforce Development building on Chestnut Expressway.
The college plans to divert the money it saves by ending that lease — and another at the Gillioz Theatre — to pay off the new building within 15 years. Ending the pair of long-term leases is expected to save the college $180,000 a year.
A significant portion of the new building, which replaced the aging Tindle Mills garage, will be used for institutional storage including custodial equipment, ice melt, furniture and information technology, or IT, equipment.
Mark Miller, director of communications for OTC, said the classroom and welding space offers flexibility. It will be used for day and evening classes.
"Today is the first day they've been in here," he said.
Brian Towry, welding technology instructor, said the set-up of the welding booths allows enhanced training in aluminum and stainless steel fabrication.
He said the 20-week, full-day program mirrors a job setting on purpose.
Students show up early, go through instruction and then immediately practice what they learn.
"How far they get is really up to the student," he said.
Towry said students in the program must adhere to a strict attendance policy, practice safety measures and submit to drug tests.
"We do in one semester what the rest of the college does in four. It's an accelerated pace," Towry said. "This is more like a job setting."
The goal is for students in the program to be able to find jobs and pass the test to obtain a welding certificate. "They have to earn that."
Gilman, 45, said without the program in Springfield, he'd have to commute to and from the program in Nevada, Missouri.
He said after 8-1/2 years in the military, he struggled to find his place in the work world. But, after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, he found his way to welding.
Gilman said welding is a perfect fit because, "for the most part, people leave you alone." He said welding jobs pay well, typically starting at $17 or $18 an hour, and he hopes to find a job as a welding inspector.
"As soon as you come out of here, you have a certificate," he said. "That will at least get you in the front door."
He added: "They are teaching you the skills you need to be able to do your job."
By the numbers
The new Workforce Training Center at Ozarks Technical Community College includes:
21,600
Square feet
14
Welding booths
70,500
Exterior bricks
$2.65 million
Cost of building
Welcome Center
The new Jared Family Welcome Center also opened Wednesday. It was funded, in large part, with a donation from the Jared Family.
The space inside the Information Technology Service Center was designed to serve as a starting point for visitors, including prospective students.
It also includes an information technology, or IT, counter with computers so current students can check email, print documents or complete other quick computer tasks.