Western Maricopa Education Center has broken ground on a $13.5 million expansion of its Northeast Campus at 1617 W. Williams Drive in Phoenix.
The expansion will include a new 16,500-square-foot building focused on advanced manufacturing and welding featuring a lab, cleanroom, and a 2,000-square-foot electric vehicle bay designed for hands-on training with car lifts and instructional spaces.
West-MEC is a public school district focused on career and technical education, offering programs that prepare students for the workforce and further education. West-MEC serves more than 37,000 students across 49 high schools in the northern and western parts of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The new facilities will address the growing demand for skilled workers in advanced manufacturing, welding, and electric vehicle repair — industries experiencing rapid growth, particularly in Arizona, officials said.
“The demand for advanced manufacturing, welding, and EV/hybrid repair continues to grow, so we wanted to ensure we had a top-of-the-line space for our students and enough courses to account for the next generation of workers,” said Dr. Scott Spurgeon, West-MEC’s Superintendent. “This is one of many expansion projects we have on the horizon, and we look forward to continuing to grow one of the largest and best CTE schools in the Valley.”
The expansion is scheduled for completion before the 2025-26 school year.
In addition to the new spaces for advanced manufacturing, welding, and EV/hybrid repair, the Northeast Campus offers programs in medical assisting, coding, automotive technology, veterinary science, pharmacy science, collision repair and construction.
West-MEC operates three additional campuses, including the Southwest campus in Goodyear, which opened in 2015. The Goodyear campus offers specialized programs in fields such as healthcare, aviation, and engineering.
West-MEC serves high school students with 36 programs and offers seven programs for adult learners.
“The expansion at our Northeast Campus is just the beginning,” Spurgeon said. “We’re focused on growing and ensuring that students across the Valley have access to the training they need for today’s high-demand jobs.”
West-MEC’s programs allow students to earn college credits and industry-recognized credentials, preparing them for workforce entry or continued education.
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