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Hill College Unveils Historic Building Designed to Host New HVAC Labs

Collaborative curriculum and facilities update will address increased need for HVAC technicians

CLEBURNE, Texas — Hill College, along with Trane, a brand of Ingersoll Rand, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Hill College Cleburne Technical Center to unveil the historic Walls Building, which will house spaces for new HVAC laboratories.

“Hill College is committed to preparing our students to successfully compete for jobs while providing qualified technicians to fill our community’s business needs,” said Dr. Pamela Boehm, president of Hill College. “We are excited to introduce the spaces for these new cutting-edge laboratories and updated curriculum which will allow our students to learn using the latest in innovative HVAC solutions and controls.”

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Cleburne Industrial Alliance Council honored the college with a Community Improvement award for the historic restoration of the former home of Walls Industries, a 70-year-old provider of work wear and sporting goods that was acquired by Williamson-Dick Manufacturing Co. in 2013. The three new laboratories will be located on the ground floor of the Walls Building and the second floor will house 16 classrooms.

Leaders from Trane and Hill College designed the new facilities in collaboration with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3). NC3 is a nonprofit organization which develops, implements, and sustains industry-recognized certifications. Graduates of the Hill College technician program will receive their final certification from NC3. Trane, Hill College, and NC3 leaders worked hand-in-hand on the college’s HVAC program to ensure that it meets the latest industry-required levels. NC3 also is training the educators who will teach the curriculum offered in the new laboratories.

The three new 3,000-square-foot laboratories on campus will feature the latest HVAC systems and controls to enable Hill College to offer its students state-of-the-art working HVAC labs. HVAC classes are expected to begin fall of 2016 at the Cleburne campus and each of the three laboratories will offer a different training environment, including residential HVAC, light commercial HVAC, and building controls.

Trane also is donating two water-source heat pumps to the new residential laboratory, which are manufactured in the McGregor, Texas, Trane plant. The water-source heat pumps, which feature variable speed drives and variable speed fans, represent leading-edge technology which enables students to learn using some of the latest HVAC products.

For more information about Hill College, visit www.hillcollege.edu.

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