STLCC-Forest Park Breaks Ground on New Transportation Center

The building is the final new construction of the College’s Transformed initiative. 

St. Louis Community College celebrated its latest STLCC Transformed efforts on Wednesday, Oct. 25, with a groundbreaking for a new Transportation Center on the Forest Park campus.  

It marks the sixth and final new building the College will construct as part of its commitment to modernize its four main campuses and programming throughout the district. 

“Employers are seeking highly skilled workers who know how to utilize emerging technologies as workforce demands in the St. Louis region change,” said Jeff L. Pittman, Ph.D., STLCC chancellor. “We’re upgrading programs in critical industries — such as truck driving and automotive technology — to meet the needs of the Missouri workforce for years to come.”

STLCC-Wildwood was the first to break ground on the Center for Health Sciences and Technology in May. The Florissant Valley campus followed with groundbreakings for the Center for Nursing and Health Science in July and the Advanced Manufacturing Center in August. Meramec’s Financial Services and Enrollment Center and the Center for Emerging Technology kicked off in September.

The 79,000-square-foot Transportation Center at STLCC-Forest Park will bring three of the College’s most sought-after programs under the same roof with automotive technology, diesel technology and CDL-A professional truck driving occupying the facility. The new building will expand capacity for all three current programs and introduce a new certificate in automotive vehicle inspection and light maintenance. The project also calls for a 36,000-square-foot fleet parking lot and a 193,000-square-foot truck driving lot that will offer unique outdoor learning opportunities.

The proximity will allow credit and non-credit students to collaborate in ways that have been logistically impossible in the past with the programs housed in separate locations throughout the city. 

“Bringing the three programs under one roof allows the College to not only serve its students better, but also provides the City of St. Louis a pipeline of new employees prepared with the latest technologies to work and live in the community,” said Julie Fickas, Ed.D., president and chief academic officer at STLCC-Forest Park. 

“Just as the Center of Nursing and Health Sciences created an influx of students on the Forest Park campus when it opened in 2019, the Transportation Center promises to invigorate our automotive technology, diesel technology and CDL-A professional truck driving programs — benefitting our local, regional and national economies as these students enter the workforce,” Fickas said.

Joe Jackson, automotive technology program coordinator, said the new facility will provide much-needed upgrades as the three programs have outgrown their current spaces. With ever-changing technology, including the emergence of the electric vehicle sector, the need for a new facility and better teaching tools became clear.

“The Transportation Center culminates years of effort and research to provide our students the highest level of education in a state-of-the-art facility that mirrors, and in some cases surpasses, the environments they’ll encounter once they enter the workforce,” Jackson said. “The center offers every student an opportunity to prepare for a rewarding career as a CDL driver or automotive/diesel technician, and we are grateful for everyone involved in making this moment a reality.” 

Said Pittman: “These projects are only possible because of the generosity of voters in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County who believe in a strong community college system. This project is a true community effort.”  

 

Transportation Center Highlights 
Anticipated Completion: Summer 2025
Size: 79,000 square feet
Estimated Cost:  $48 million
Architect: FGM Architects
Construction Manager: Tarlton Corp.
Contractor: Russell Co.

Key Offerings:

• Automotive technology, diesel technology, and the truck driving program will be together under one roof with expanded student capacity.
• Outdoor learning opportunities with the addition of a 36,000-square-foot fleet parking lot and a 193,000-square-foot truck driving lot.
• Areas for breaks, exploration and collaboration, allowing credit and non-credit students and courses to work together seamlessly.
• Flexible classrooms and lobby spaces will offer opportunities to host events and classes for outside companies and organizations.