WACO, TX – On March 26, the Texas Association of Builders (TAB) joined state leaders, industry partners, and educators at Texas State Technical College (TSTC) in Waco to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of the new $72 million Construction Technologies Center. The event served as a dual celebration of a state-of-the-art learning facility and the historic success of SJR 59 (Proposition 1), which established a permanent endowment to fund future learning facilities for the development of Texas’ skilled trades workforce.
The newly completed 120,000-square-foot facility, highly visible along Interstate 35, represents a strategic response to the state’s critical shortage of skilled trades professionals. The center was built by Rogers-O'Brien Construction, featuring a "full-circle" homecoming for five TSTC alumni who served as the skilled professionals responsible for building the very labs where the next generation will train.
A notable moment in the ceremony was the recognition of the legislative and public victory of Proposition 1. As a Constitutional Amendment, the measure required a referendum of the people. Texas citizens voted the proposition into law, ensuring TSTC has an $850 million endowment to provide a "forever flow" of capital funding for campus growth. The measure passed with a resounding 7 out of every 10 Texans voting "Yes," demonstrating widespread public support for technical education even in districts where a TSTC campus does not exist.
During the event, TSTC Chancellor Michael Reeser presented the TSTC Torchbearer Award to J.D. Hale, TAB’s Vice President of Government Affairs. Hale was honored for his exceptional leadership in assembling and leading the coalition of employers and associations that drove the success of the Proposition 1 campaign.
Scott Norman, CEO of the Texas Association of Builders, addressed the attendees, emphasizing that the building is a symbol of the "sea change" in recognizing the value of skilled trades. Norman noted that the housing industry is currently over 300,000 homes short of what is needed to sustain the "Texas Miracle," and the graduates from this facility will be essential in addressing that gap.
The Construction Technologies Center consolidates several high-demand programs into a single cutting-edge hub, including Building Construction Technology, Electrical Construction, HVAC Technology, Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology, and Solar Energy Technology. The Center highlights the state-of-the-art learning facilities TSTC will continue to develop across 11 campuses state-wide, with Proposition 1’s passage.
The ceremony concluded with tours of the new facility, showcasing glassed-in labs and specialized training areas like an indoor "sandbox" for underground plumbing work.
