West-MEC Completes Manufacturing, Welding, EV Facilities

Western Maricopa Education Center, known as West-MEC, has completed a $13.5 million expansion of its Northeast Campus at 1617 W. Williams Drive, adding an Advanced Manufacturing and Welding building and an electric vehicle (EV) bay. The project was designed by Grace Design Studios, formerly GHC-Orcutt Winslow, and built by McCarthy Building Companies Inc.

The new 16,500-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing building includes a lab with an ISO-X cleanroom and industry-standard equipment from companies such as Festo, Universal Robots and KUKA. Students in West-MEC’s two-year Advanced Manufacturing, Automation and Robotics program study technologies including artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotic process automation and their impact on manufacturing. The program also incorporates cleanroom simulation training to prepare students for jobs in the semiconductor and manufacturing sectors.

The project also features a 2,000-square-foot EV bay equipped with a car lift as its centerpiece. The space supports instruction across multiple areas and allows for hands-on demonstrations.

“By connecting world-class training with industry needs, this new facility ensures West-MEC students are ready to step into high-demand jobs from day one. It’s a win for our students, our partners and Arizona’s economy,” said West-MEC Superintendent Scott Spurgeon.

The facility also adds more than 3,000 square feet of classroom and collaboration space to enhance hands-on learning. The Advanced Manufacturing building houses a welding lab with 25 Lincoln welding booths, a specialized Lincoln exhaust system, and an exterior welding yard with sandblasting and plasma cutting stations.

“Equipping high school students with a facility that provides the necessary, relevant hands-on training for lucrative careers in advanced manufacturing is very rewarding for our team,” said McCarthy Senior Project Director Tyler Shupe. “These students are getting exposure to and practice with state-of-the-art equipment and technology that will prepare them for a future in this rapidly expanding industry.”

Construction began in September 2024 and was completed in 10 months with the support of Grace’s self-certification permitting process and in-house plan review. Subcontractors included Stone Cold Masonry, Progressive Roofing, Pueblo Mechanical and Hawkeye Electric.

“Grace Design Studios was absolutely thrilled to partner with West-MEC and McCarthy on the successful transformation of the Northeast Campus, delivering cutting-edge Advanced Manufacturing, Welding and EV tech programs,” said Saravanan Bala, partner at Grace Design Studios. “This modernized campus will serve to further burnish West-MEC’s reputation as a pioneering and innovative organization with an unrelenting focus on next-generation workforce development initiatives in greater Maricopa County.”

The Northeast Campus also offers programs in medical assisting, coding, automotive technology, veterinary science, pharmacy science, collision repair and construction technology, among others. West-MEC serves high school students across the Phoenix area with one of the state’s largest career and technical education curriculums.

By West Valley View Staff | September 18, 2025