McCarthy Awarded West-MEC Southwest Campus Project in Arizona

McCarthy recently began a $50-million new construction project, including site plan and infrastructure layout, for Western Maricopa Education Center in conjunction with architect DLR Group. The West-MEC Southwest Campus project, which will be located at I-10 and Verrado Way in Buckeye, Arizona, will eventually serve 650 students in 12-14 different programs (including secondary education, post-secondary education and industry training).

The first phase of construction began in January and will be completed in December 2015. Phase I includes a 32,000-square-foot, two-story Sustainable Energy building. Programs taught in this building may include energy programs that have a curriculum focused on electrical, mechanical, instrumentation and flow loop applications. Phase I also includes a 12,500-square-foot, two-story Student Services Building. This building will feature a presentation and demonstration space with a capacity of up to 400 people.

The second phase of construction, estimated for completion in August 2016, will include an Industrial Technology building with 23,000 square feet of space and 10,000 square feet of outdoor work space. Programs taught in this building may include carpentry, electrical and plumbing trades. Phase II will also include a Health Occupations building with 16,000 square feet of space for medical assisting and medical records programs.

Future phases will include buildings for STEM, veterinary assisting, auto/transportation programs and cosmetology/personal services. The entire campus at build out will feature 167,000 square feet of building space and is situated on a 20-acre campus.

The West-MEC Southwest Campus is one of four projects for the career and technical public school district funded by a $74.9-million voter-approved bond in 2012.