STLCC-Florissant Valley Opens New Advanced Manufacturing Center
Monday, April 7, 2025
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It marks the second of six new buildings the College will open this year as part of its STLCC Transformed initiative, a commitment to modernize its four main campuses and programming throughout the district.
“The Advanced Manufacturing Center offers a synergy among nearly 20 programs and our faculty, staff, instructors and students, creating opportunities for collaboration that didn’t previously exist on this campus,” said Jeff L. Pittman, PhD, STLCC chancellor. “In fact, students have already started using the center, attending classes in robotics, computer information technology, business, accounting, geospatial technology and engineering technology.”
The 96,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center at STLCC-Florissant Valley will combine short-term career training, degree and certificate programs in STEM and advanced manufacturing. The center will house the College’s business and accounting programs, as well as STLCC’s new remote aircraft pilot certificate program. The campus includes an outdoor classroom with a large, netted enclosure for safe drone piloting practice. Another interesting feature of the new building is a suite for early college students.
“Through our dual enrollment and early college partnerships with area high schools, students can earn college credit or their associate degree at STLCC at the same time as their high school diploma,” said Elizabeth Gassel Perkins, EdD, campus president and chief academic officer at STLCC-Florissant Valley. “Now our early college students have a modern, dedicated space to study, receive support, and connect with their peers that was specifically designed for their needs.”
The Advanced Manufacturing Center will strengthen industry partnerships and align programming with workforce demands.
“The Advanced Manufacturing Center is designed for maximum hands-on training in many manufacturing and engineering technology fields. We are excited to add drones, GIS, surveying, and other programs,” said Tom McGovern, STLCC dean of industrial occupations, business and culinary. “Visitors to the building can look directly into typical work environments and see the activities that students are engaged in.”
In addition to the Advanced Manufacturing Center and the new Nursing and Health Sciences Center that opened to students on the Florissant Valley campus in February, STLCC will open four more new buildings and complete major renovations to existing spaces throughout the district. The new buildings include a Health Sciences and Technology Center on the Wildwood campus, a Financial Services Education Center and an Emerging Technology Center at Meramec, and a Transportation Education Center on the Forest Park campus.
These new construction projects are covered by funds from Proposition R, an eight-cent tax levy approved by St. Louis City and County voters in 2021.
Advanced Manufacturing Center Facts
- Start of construction: August 2023
- Size: 96,000 square feet
- Cost: $51.8 million
- Architect: JEMA
- Construction Manager: NAVIGATE Building Solutions
- General Contractor: Kadean Construction Company