​Major expansion at MCC-Longview to establish Automotive Institute including diesel technology program, new look for campus

Metropolitan Community College will host a ceremonial groundbreaking at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, to kick off construction of the MCC-Longview Automotive Institute and a major overhaul of the campus’ cornerstone automotive program. The event will be held in the Education Center at MCC-Longview, 500 S.W. Longview Road, Lee’s Summit.
 
The $27.9 million project is expected to be completed by the start of the Fall 2025 semester.
 
MCC-Longview President Ryan Crider said the facility will more than double the square footage for automotive programming, which will allow for expansion of the existing automotive technology and collision repair programs and make way for a brand new diesel technology program.
 
The project will include renovation of the existing 28,000-square-foot automotive high-technology building and construction of an all new 39,000-square-foot Automotive Institute.
 
Sheryl Farnan, Longview’s dean of instruction, said the new building will link the existing building to the center of campus, forever altering the footprint at Longview and allowing automotive students to be more engaged in activities on campus.
 
“This will now become the crown jewel of our campus,” Farnan said. “When you park by the main entrance and turn up the main sidewalk, you will see this beautiful building front and center at the end of our campus.”
 
“We’ve always had high caliber programs,” Crider said. “Now we’re going to have a facility that will be a worthy home for those programs.”
 
Crider said adding the new diesel program will go a long way toward addressing a skills gap in the field, as there is an identified need for diesel mechanics in the region.
 
“Employers have been asking for diesel for years,” Crider said. “We already have folks involved in diesel who are looking for ways to get in front of our existing students even before we had the program.”
 
Industry partners and Longview’s automotive advisory board, which includes leaders from local shops and dealerships, were also involved in planning.
 
Features of the ultramodern space will include:

• An open architectural design inspired by modern auto dealerships
• An abundance of natural light
• A second-floor observation bridge overlooking 24 automotive work bays
• Dedicated space for each of the three automotive programs
• Much needed storage space
• More efficient and streamlined instructional space
• An industry partnership room where regional employers can host meetings or events

 
“It will look like a showcase space,” Crider said. “Everything will be transparent. You will be able to look into the space from the bridge on the second floor, into the classrooms and labs. There will be glass dividers so you can see what’s going on in there.”
 
Students completing the associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degree in automotive technology with medium- and heavy-duty truck emphasis will be ready to accept a position as an entry-level diesel mechanic when they graduate in two years or less. MCC-Longview’s automotive technology arsenal also includes numerous degree and certificate options in automotive service (including Ford ASSET and GM/ASEP) and collision repair.
 
All MCC automotive curriculum is designed to ensure students are prepared to pass the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) exams at graduation.
 
Lead architect for the project is DLR Group, and McCown Gordon is the general contractor. Funding came from both public and private resources and includes:

• $10 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a post-pandemic federal stimulus bill providing funding for infrastructure and other recovery initiatives
• $5 million from the Sunderland Foundation
• $3 million from the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development funded through MoExcels, which facilitates funding and expansion of employer-driven education and training programs
• $222,000 from the Ronald D. Deffenbaugh Sr. Foundation

 
The public is invited to the event. Please RSVP by emailing [email protected] or calling 816.604.2144.