Chippewa Valley Technical College

Transportation Education Center and Storage Facilities

Head on shot of the front patio with outdoor student gathering spaces at the CVTC TEC.
The main student lounge and collaboration space in the CVTC TEC, with glass garage doors that open the space up in nice weather.
A long view into the CVTC TEC, with student coffee station, touchdown study areas, and windows into education bays.
Semi trucks and tool storage in one of the education bays at CVTC.
A student works in an alcove outside of a vehicle service bay in the CVTC TEC.
Cars are lined up in the car service garage of the Transportation Education Center.
A corridor in the Transportation Education Center, with yellow paint stripes on the floor that resemble a road.
Wide angle of the CVTC TEC entry and green space.

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Transportation Education Center and Storage Facilities

Eau Claire, Wis.

The new Transportation Education Center (TEC) provides a modern facility with updated technology and equipment for CVTC’s transportation programs — formerly spread across the campus — under one roof. The design revolves around increasing collaboration opportunities, optimizing efficiency, and counteracting a workforce shortage in the transportation industry. The TEC is also adaptable to future needs, including changes in transportation modes, fuels, and automation.

Flexible shop space and classroom planning allows spaces to evolve, while an expandable and open commons area accommodates many uses and group sizes. The TEC is organized to optimize operations, with a balance of safe and efficient vehicular and pedestrian circulation that allows faculty and students from five different programs to operate safely in one combined setting while in close proximity to large equipment and vehicles, as well as fuels and other potential hazards. The TEC is built to LEED Silver standards and is designed to accommodate solar panels in the future.

Designed in collaboration with architect of record, River Valley Architects (formerly SDS Architects).

Size: 135,000 sq. ft.

Components: Classrooms; commons; learning center; simulation lab; science lab; repair garage for diesel and automotive repair, storage, and mechanics; specialty shops; cold storage; administrative space; meeting and multi-purpose spaces

Completion: 2022