Polk State College opens new
Advanced Technology Training Center

“We are planting a tree of knowledge that will give shade for generations.” These words were spoken by Dr. Eileen Holden, President of Polk State College at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Advanced Technology Center (ATC) on January 8, 2014. The ATC is located on 20 acres at the Clear Springs Business Park in Bartow, Florida. Madrid Engineering Group, Inc. (MEG) played an integral role in both the construction and the outfitting of this educational institution. MEG’s donation to the PSC Foundation was used to purchase state-of-the-art computers and 2-D and 3-D modeling software for the CADD laboratory in the facility.

The ATC is a $14.5 million, 47,000 square-foot building that houses teaching facilities and specialty equipment including computer laboratories, information technology, professional training such as project management and leadership, supply-chain management, robotics, and manufacturing technologies. The ATC will be the headquarters of Polk State’s Design, Construction and Sustainability Institute, which was started when Rich Thompson approached Larry Madrid on the technical training needs at Madrid Engineering. That initial meeting turned into a roundtable discussion with architects, construction professionals, and engineers in Polk County and ended up as a comprehensive program for these professionals. The training includes beginning and advanced CADD training using AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and other software.

MEG provided materials testing services for Rodda construction during the site work and building construction. Testing included: earthwork compaction of the parking and building areas; concrete compressive strength testing for the foundations; lime rock and asphalt testing for the parking lot. Keith Ellis, PE, Materials Testing and CEI Department Head for MEG, also attended the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Larry Madrid, PE, D.GE, F.ASCE, president of Madrid Engineering Group, Inc., has been a member of the Corporate Advisory Board for the Corporate College of PSC for the past two years and eagerly awaited the opening of this facility. He was ecstatic to be at the opening ceremonies and ribbon-cutting. “This facility and their staff is one of most important cogs in the machinery that will power Bartow’s economic engine into the future. Madrid Engineering is proud to be a Board Circle member of the numerous donors for this institution. We are specifically pleased with being a donor for the CADD Laboratory, as this technology is now one of the most important design tools for construction and engineering. It also aligns with our corporate focus to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education programs that will benefit the US economy.”