IMPERIAL — Imperial Valley College will host the soft opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for its new Automotive Technology Complex on Wednesday, July 15, marking the completion of the final major project funded through the college’s 2010 Measure J bond program.
The ceremony begins at 4 p.m. at the new 30,000-square-foot facility located on the northwest side of campus. While minor finishing touches will continue following the event, the complex has reached substantial completion and will officially welcome students when Fall 2026 classes begin on August 17.
Designed to prepare students for high-demand careers while expanding instructional capacity, the new facility significantly enhances Imperial Valley College’s workforce education programs.
“The demand for skilled automotive and diesel technicians continues to grow throughout Imperial County, and this new facility allows us to prepare even more students for those careers,” said Lennor Johnson, outgoing superintendent/president of Imperial Valley College. “By expanding our classroom and lab space, we’re creating more opportunities for students to gain the hands-on experience and industry certifications employers are looking for.”
The new automotive technology classrooms will increase instructional capacity from approximately 22 students per class to as many as 35 students, allowing the college to serve more students pursuing careers in the automotive and diesel industries.
IVC’s Automotive Technology Program follows an accelerated training model that enables students to complete their coursework in a shorter timeframe before becoming eligible to take nationally recognized Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification exams, an important credential for employment in the automotive repair industry.
The college also partners with Ford Motor Company through its Automotive Continuing Education program, providing students with the opportunity to earn Ford certification and gain specialized manufacturer training.
With a total project cost of approximately $42.5 million, the new complex provides modern instructional spaces designed to support multiple academic disciplines.
The facility includes automotive service bays, a diesel shop, a machine room, modern classrooms and laboratories for automotive technology, art and photography, indoor and outdoor instructional labs, a dedicated tool room, and a traditional photography darkroom.
A new maker room will provide engineering and industrial technology students with access to advanced equipment, including 3D printers and other emerging technologies that support innovation, design, and applied learning.
The college’s Career Services Center also will be housed within the complex, creating closer connections between classroom instruction, internships, and employment opportunities.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the facility incorporates a photovoltaic solar structure, battery energy storage, and electric vehicle charging stations.
“Erickson Hall Construction is proud to partner with Imperial Valley College in delivering a facility that reflects the college’s commitment to innovation, quality education, and community investment. This project creates an environment where students will develop the technical skills that support the region’s workforce for generations to come,” said Mat Gates, president of Erickson Hall Construction.
Funding for the project was provided through Measure J and the Imperial Valley College Building Fund.
Construction began in November 2024 and reached substantial completion in May 2026. The project was designed by Sanders Inc., an El Centro-based architecture and engineering firm, and constructed by Erickson Hall Construction.
Following the soft opening ceremony, final punch-list work, minor building adjustments, and site finishes will continue before the facility is fully commissioned for the start of the fall 2026 semester.
To make way for the new complex, the former diesel laboratory and art and humanities building were demolished during construction. The current automotive technology classroom building and tool building will remain in operation until instruction transitions into the new facility.
Following the facility’s opening, the nearby adjacent building 1100 will undergo environmental abatement and demolition, followed by landscape improvements for the new building.
The Automotive Technology Complex represents the final major construction project completed under the voter-approved Measure J bond program, which also funded the construction of the college’s 47,000-square-foot Career Technical Education Complex that opened in 2014.
Although originally planned as part of the initial Measure J program, construction of the Automotive Technology Complex was delayed after the Great Recession significantly reduced Imperial County property values, postponing the sale of bonds needed to complete the project.
With the completion of this project, Imperial Valley College fulfills a long-term vision to expand career education facilities and strengthen workforce development opportunities for students throughout Imperial Valley.