FDTC opens new Automotive and HVAC center
A ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated a new HVAC building at Florence-Darlington Technical College. Photos by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC) formally opened its new Automotive and HVAC Technology Center with a March 29 ribbon cutting ceremony.
FDTC president Dr. Ben Dillard welcomed guests, including Darlington Raceway president Kerry Tharp and NASCAR’s JTG Daugherty Racing crew chief Trent Owens, and lauded the new $7.3 million facility as a major step in FDTC’s 10-year Academic Master Plan.
“We also have a new multi-storied building planned for the front of the campus which will take the place of two structures that date back to our founding over 50 years ago. It’s time for something new,” Dillard said.
Automotive and HVAC students are already attending classes in the 37,000 square-foot facility, which is located between Tech’s 600 Building and the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT).
“What a great day to be at Florence-Darlington Tech, and what a great day to be in the state of South Carolina. I look around, and what I see is excellence. I know that’s what this state is all about, and that’s what Darlington Raceway is all about, and that’s excellence,” said Tharp. “The new facility that is being dedicated today is second to none.”
Darlington native Owens said he is a big fan of technical colleges, noting that he received a Mechanical Engineering Technology degree from Central Piedmont Technical College in Charlotte.
“Some of us just need that balance between classroom and hands-on. To all of you students out there, a lot of the guys that assemble our racecars and makes sure that nothing falls off, it makes my job a lot easier. I came from similar background and similar training, and I can’t imagine a more advanced facility anywhere in the country,” said Owens.
Student Cody Lloyd said that all the cutting edge equipment at this new facility means that job prospects for FDTC automotive technology graduates are very strong.
“You’d think that the job market is saturated, but there’s a shortage of people that understand all the new technology and computers that are going into cars now. So people like us get a leg up because in this program we see these electronics and how they work together and interact throughout the cars. That gives us a head start on our competition,” said Lloyd.
HVAC instructor John Cunningham said graduates of his program find job placement almost immediately upon graduation, with many heating and cooling companies lining up to inquire about potential hires even before they finish their degrees.
For more information on Florence-Darlington Technical College, please visit www.fdtc.edu or call 843-661-8324.
