Construction is now underway on a 60,000-square foot building at Durham College’s Whitby campus that will serve as home to many of the college’s skilled-trades training programs.

Durham College made the announcement on January 16.

“The college continuously hears from its partners that they need more skilled workers and would like new programs developed to focus on emerging industries,” said college president Don Lovisa. “Yet in spite of our current efforts, the ability to keep up with the demand remains a challenge due to the physical space constraints at the Whitby campus. For example, the student population has increased by 130 percent increase in the past 10 years.”

It’s no secret that skilled trades workers are in high demand. Skills Canada estimates that one million skilled workers will be needed across Canada by 2020 and that 40 percent of new jobs created in the next decade will be in skilled trades. Colleges Ontario forecasts that by 2030 the province will face a skilled labour shortage of more than 500,000 workers.

Durham College, meanwhile, is wrestling with its own skilled trades challenge. Across its nine trades-training programs, 2,400 seats were available. The college received nearly 7,000 applications for those programs, however. Its Whitby campus expansion will allow the college to increase its student intake by up to 750 placements over the next five years.

“More space will allow the college to focus on high-priority industries,” said Rebecca Milburn, executive dean of the School of Skilled Trades, Apprenticeship and Renewable Technology and principal at the Whitby campus. “Once complete, this expansion will significantly increase DC’s industrial skilled trades training capacity, while also creating more opportunities to participate in applied research projects to advance innovation and knowledge.”

The expansion, which is expected to cost $35 million, will open new placement spaces for the electrical engineering technician, electrical techniques, mechanical technician – elevating devices, mechanical techniques – plumbing programs, as well as the electrician – construction and maintenance, elevating devices mechanic and plumber apprenticeship programs.

The new building will feature a double-height shop lab that addresses the specialized needs of the mechanical and construction programs. The lab will allow plumbing students to work underneath while elevating devices students will be able to work in an easily accessible dual-level elevator shaft. It will also include classrooms with moveable walls and furniture to accommodate various configurations, and training labs with dedicated space and equipment for a range of post-secondary and apprenticeship programs.