On Sept. 16, Texas A&M University System and Blinn College District officials celebrated the grand opening of the Agriculture and Workforce Education Complex located on the 2,000-acre RELLIS Campus.
“Opening this world-class facility on the innovative RELLIS Campus will ensure our students have access to the practical hands-on education needed to succeed,” says Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. “We look forward to seeing how this partnership benefits not only our students but also the local workforce.”
The 38,000 square-foot complex is a state-of-the-art facility where students will prepare for high-demand careers in secondary education and the construction industries and is the result of a collaborative effort between the Texas A&M System; the Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications; and the Blinn College District.
The $15 million complex is now the home of the Texas A&M agricultural science program, which prepares and places agricultural science teachers into high school classrooms across the state of Texas. It also serves as home to Blinn College’s workforce training offerings, which range from advanced manufacturing, welding, carpentry, and HVAC to the public and electrical trades. Blinn recently announced the launch of new Associate of Applied Science degrees in carpentry, facilities maintenance, HVAC, and water purification to be offered in the facility this fall.
“The Blinn College District is proud to stand alongside the Texas A&M University System, the cities of Bryan and College Station, and all the partners at the RELLIS Campus in celebrating a complex that will bring new innovations and hands-on educational opportunities for students throughout the region,” says Dr. Mary Hensley, chancellor of the Blinn College District. “Blinn looks forward to training the next generation of workforce leaders at this dynamic new facility.”
The 16,000 square-foot building includes five demonstration and traditional classrooms, incorporating teaching and simulation technology, as well as a seminar room, a computer classroom, faculty offices, and space for students to collaborate on projects. The facility also features the 11,000 square-foot Agricultural Trades Pavilion and the 11,000 square-foot Construction Trades pavilion, which will serve as open laboratory spaces for students to work on full-scale projects using equipment they will utilize in their chosen profession.
