Augusta Technical College hosted a sneak peek of its automotive training center Wednesday morning at 1122 Walton Way, the former site of the Johnson Cadillac dealership, commemorating the progress of a project some three years in the making.
“Today is… a part of history,” said Augusta Tech President Jermaine Whirl before a crowd of attendees outside the former site of the Johnson Motor Company’s Cadillac dealership.
Whirl referred to when the college’s automotive program was ranked the number one of its kind by the U.S. Department of Education in 1986, drawing a visit from the Secretary of Education and a letter of congratulations from former President Ronald Reagan.
“We’re going to go back to the future,” Whirl said. “We’re going to go back to 1986, but we’re going to put it in a 2023 flavor.”
Talks to expand Augusta Tech’s automotive technology program began shortly after Whirl began as president, in fall of 2020. The following year, the department got word that Duncan Johnson, owner of Johnson Motor Company, intended to sell the Walton Way property.
Augusta Tech’s Board of Trustees agreed with Whirl about the building’s potential, and voted to support a campaign to purchase the property for the purpose of upgrading the automotive program by building an all-purpose training facility.
Additions to the 65,000 square foot structure will bring it to 72,000 square feet, compared to the 11,000 square feet the automotive department has on campus.
Students are to receive extensive instruction ranging from technical training to customer service. Customers will be able to drive into the building’s service bays for light repairs by pupils, who’ll also be learning how to communicate with patrons.
“Something like this center is absolutely huge, and it’s astronomical for someone like me,” said Christian Rabun, a current student in Augusta Tech’s automotive program.
Alongside basics such as engines, transmissions and brakes, learners will be educated on collision repair, light and heavy diesel and more, widening their opportunities in the auto field after graduation.
“It’s basically Toys R Us for a car guy,” said Rabun.
The college’s fundraising campaign for the expansion elicited several generous donations, including $1 million each from Augusta National, Jim Hudson Auto Group and the Knox Foundation.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to create a true regional center,” said architect Joe Gambill, vice chair of the Augusta Technical College Foundation. “That not only is going to help us train students that live in Augusta, but it’s also going to bring students from the whole region right to Augusta. And we hope that they’re going to stay here and continue to work in these dealerships. So we’re very proud.”
The college is planning to complete renovations of the training center, which will be called the Jim Hudson Automotive Institute, next year, in time to be completed and open by fall of 2025.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
