Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) marked its 60th anniversary with the opening of the Ted Chavez Trades and Technologies Center (TTC) in Albuquerque. This new facility is dedicated to skilled trades education and training, reflecting CNM's long-standing commitment to these fields since its inception as Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute (TVI) in 1965.
The college began with 150 students and a few programs, including Automotive Repair and Carpentry. Today, it serves over 33,000 students annually through 150 academic and workforce training programs. "There are thousands of people in our community who have great careers and great lives because of the caring support of our faculty and staff over the decades," said CNM President Tracy Hartzler.
The TTC will accommodate most of CNM's trades programs such as Welding, Electrical Trades, Carpentry, Plumbing, Industrial Automation Technology (Mechatronics), and HVACR. The facility spans 60,000 square feet and includes lab spaces for all programs, nine classrooms, academic support areas, administrative offices, and outdoor gathering spaces. It is designed for adaptability and collaboration with features like coexisting classroom and lab spaces for seamless transitions from lectures to hands-on learning.
"The entire TTC building was designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities," said Sionna Grassbaugh, Interim Dean of the School of Skilled Trades & Arts. She emphasized that the space supports more learners to meet the growing demand for skilled tradespeople both locally and nationally.
New Mexico faces a significant need for skilled tradespeople as many workers approach retirement age without enough replacements. The New Mexico Building Trades Council estimates that up to 30% of its members are nearing retirement. Construction jobs account for 7% of employment in New Mexico with an average wage of $76,000 statewide [https://www.dws.state.nm.us/]. The state projects an addition of 5,600 construction jobs over the next seven years.
The TTC's design was developed collaboratively with input from industry professionals and local government officials. Named after Ted Chavez—a former student who studied HVAC at TVI—the center honors his contributions to CNM's trades programs during his 19-year teaching career.
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