Gateway Community & Technical College: New Skilled Trades Hub Combines Form & Function to Meet Local Need

For decades, community colleges have been essential institutions where recent high school grads and adult learners alike could enroll in general education courses before matriculating to a larger school or receiving technical training for specific careers. But amid the staggering labor shortages across the U.S. in recent years, states and employers have started leaning on their community colleges for a critical purpose: filling the labor gap.

This shortage has particularly affected the manufacturing sector, and the need for skilled workers is especially notable in the Bluegrass State. One report predicts that by 2030, there will be more than 20,000 total manufacturing jobs in the counties that make up the Northern Kentucky region. Gateway Community & Technical College enthusiastically responded to this demand in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky by investing in the expansion of its industry-driven trade programs at its Urban Metro campus. SHP was thrilled to partner with Gateway on an interior renovation of the Center for Technology, Innovation and Enterprise in downtown Covington.

The result? A 4,000sf state-of-the-art skilled trades hub that strikes a delicate balance between form, function and flexibility—all while supporting Gateway’s computerized manufacturing, welding, HVAC and industrial maintenance programs. Learn more about how our team transformed this space in our latest case study, Form, Function & Flexibility: Gateway Community & Technical College’s Skilled Trades Hub.