Albany Technical College held a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. on Wednesday June 13, 2018 to kickoff Phase II renovations of the Carlton Construction Academy. The event was held at the current site of the Carlton Construction Academy, 1704 S. Slappey Boulevard, corner of Lippitt Drive and Slappey in Albany.

In 2003, Albany Tech acquired the Carlton Construction Academy site through a donation from the philanthropic Carlton Family. The facility currently houses classroom space and labs for such programs as carpentry, construction management, industrial air conditioning technology, masonry, and plumbing. At the time of the donation, the facility was valued at
$2 million.

Phase II of the facility renovation will center on an extensive overhaul of the industrial warehouse space on the site. When completed, these renovations will provide additional classroom space and lab upgrades for programs like electrical construction and civil engineering technology. After the project is complete, there will be space to add several new disciplines to

the curriculum including green building technology, residential energy efficiency, and renewable sustainable energy.

The $4.9 million project, which will add 28,633 square feet of useable space to the Academy, also calls for HVAC and architectural upgrades needed to house a modern teaching facility. The façade of the facility will be modified during the renovation to reflect the architectural design of other campus buildings that face Slappey, one of Albany’s major thoroughfares.

Dr. Anthony O. Parker, President of Albany Technical College, commented, “We continue to be attentive to the workforce concerns of employers within the region. This project demonstrates our commitment to the community and to promoting economic growth through meaningful partnerships with industry and the public sector.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for carpenters is projected to grow eight percent from 2016 to 2026, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for carpenters is listed as $45,170 annually or $21.71 per hour. For the occupational segment listed as “plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the trade is expected to grow much faster than average at a rate of 16 percent with a 2017 median wage of $52,590 annually or $25.28 per hour.