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Dr. J.W. Kelley

Dr. J.W. Kelley


828-652-0635

MTCC Health Sciences & Public Safety Center

The Health Sciences & Public Safety Center represents a major expansion of McDowell Technical Community College’s commitment to workforce development, student success, and community well-being. Designed as a modern, purpose-built facility, the new building will bring together health sciences, emergency services, and public safety programs under one roof, creating a collaborative learning environment that reflects real-world professional settings.

This new center will support hands-on, career-focused training across multiple disciplines, including nursing, emergency medical services, and law enforcement. Purpose-designed classrooms, simulation spaces, and skills labs will allow students to train in environments that closely mirror the conditions they will encounter in the field, strengthening both technical competence and confidence. By integrating instruction, practice, and collaboration, the facility will help prepare graduates to meet the evolving needs of healthcare and public safety employers across the region.

Beyond its impact on students, the Health Sciences & Public Safety Center reflects the college’s continued investment in serving McDowell County and the surrounding communities. The building expands the college’s physical footprint and instructional capacity, enabling program growth, stronger partnerships with local agencies, and enhanced opportunities for community engagement. As workforce demands continue to change, this facility ensures the college remains positioned to educate, train, and support the professionals our community depends on every day.


Click on the images for a larger view

Ground Floor

  • Functional Training High Bay (2,400 sq. ft.)
  • Emergency Medical Technician Training
  • Law Enforcement Training
  • Dedicated Debrief / Meeting Room
  • Storage
  • (3) Shared Classrooms (approx. 900 sq. ft. each)
  • Fitness Center & Locker Rooms (2,000 sq. ft.)
  • Large Classroom / Lecture Space
View full-size floor plan
Ground floor interior plan

Second Floor

  • Nursing Skills Lab (1,800 sq. ft.)
  • (8) Training Beds
  • Supply Room with Laundry
  • Storage
  • Mock Hospital (2,500 sq. ft.)
  • (6) Simulation Hospital Rooms
  • Dedicated Observation Rooms
  • NICU Simulation Room
  • (5) Shared Classrooms (approx. 1,000 sq. ft. each)
  • Small Meeting & Huddle Rooms
  • Main Lobby
View full-size floor plan
Second floor (main entrance) interior plan

Third Floor

  • Administrative Office Suites (2,400 sq. ft.)
  • Nursing
  • Law Enforcement
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • (2) Shared Classrooms (approx. 900 sq. ft. each)
  • Lecture Hall
  • Rooftop Terrace with Executive Conference Room
  • Catering Kitchen
View full-size floor plan
Third floor interior plan

Timeline

Funding July 2022 – June 2023

$25,250,000 for McDowell Technical Community College was a state “local project” appropriation funded from North Carolina’s ARPA Temporary Savings Fund (2023 state budget). Earmarked for a new Health Sciences & Public Safety Complex, split into two tranches ($10,000,000 and $15,250,000).

Milestone August 16, 2024

NCCCS Form 3-1 submitted and approved by the NCCCS State Board.

Milestone November 12, 2024

Contract signed with Holland and Hamrick to design the Health Sciences & Public Safety Complex.

Milestone February 2025

Interviews for the General Contractor (CM at Risk).

Milestone March 2025

MTCC Board approved Hickory Construction Company, LLC.

Milestone October 2025

Project submitted: Schematic Design.

Milestone November 2025

Holland and Hamrick presented schematic design to the MTCC Board of Trustees.

Projected
Projected Summer 2026

State Construction Approval.

Projected Fall 2026

Ground Breaking.

Projected Fall 2028

Grand Opening.