Athens Technical College President Andrea Daniel, Rep. Houston Gaines and Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier spoke at the College's Topping Out Ceremony for the industrial systems technology building on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. 

Athens Technical College faculty, staff and community partners gathered to celebrate the placement of the final structural beam for the new 43,000-sq. foot Industrial Systems Technology Building on campus in a ceremony on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.

The ‘topping out’ is a long-standing tradition of signing and placing the final beam for the building structure, recognizing a large milestone in the project.

“We are grateful for our wonderful partners in this important project and are looking forward to the many students we will serve in this building,” said President Andrea Daniel. “It wouldn’t be possible without the support from Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly. This is a giant leap forward in preparing our students for a variety of in-demand jobs, and it will help us expand our commitment to continuing education.”

In addition to Daniel, speakers at the event included Representative Houston Gaines, Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier, and owner of Stanfield Air Systems Rex Coker, a graduate of ATC, who underlined the critical need for technicians in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry.

“Even more than seeing the final completion of the building, I am excited to see the graduates that will leave here and enter the workforce,” said Dozier.

The new space located at Highway 29 N. and Calhoun Drive will provide additional classrooms and instructional laboratories for air conditioning technology, industrial systems technology and mechatronics programs. It will also be home to economic development programs, which deliver customized business and short-term workforce readiness classes.

Construction was preceded by the demolition of an existing building and slab that was acquired over a decade ago for the vision of campus expansion but was not suitable for renovation.

Construction for the building is by Carroll Daniel Construction of Gainesville, Georgia, and the architect is Jericho Design Group out of Cumming, Georgia. Other sub-contractors include MEP Design, Conway and Owen Structural Design, Shear Structural Civil, and Breedlove Land Planning.

The overall budget for the state-funded project is 17.2 million dollars, which includes furniture, fixtures and equipment. Material completion on the building is set for early September 2023, approximately a year after construction began.

“Eventually this section of steel will be covered over, but you will always be a part of this building,” Daniel told attendees. “These signatures will forever commemorate ties to this building and your dedication to Athens Technical College.”