Construction on the new telecommunications building began
in spring 2003. The 20,000-square foot facility, designed
by Kurt F. Lent, provides state-of-the-art educational
resources for telecom/technology training.
The
new building, a showpiece in architectural design, is anchored
by an eight-sided structure that forms a hub for the facility.
The octagon-shaped centerpiece contains administrative
and faculty offices, conference room and lounge area. A
wing of classrooms, with a second student lounge, extends
north from the hub, which is designed to accommodate future
wings as needed for expansion.
The
facility contains eight traditional classrooms, a telephone
switch classroom and two BICSI (Building Industry Consulting
Service International) classrooms. BICSI qualifications
are recognized throughout the world, and those who complete
its requisite education and experience receive the coveted
Registered Information Transport Systems designation.
The entire building is designed and decorated with a distinctive
telephony décor. Outside, the site incorporates
additional training facilities that simulate conditions
in the telephony workplace. Included in the external training
grounds are a working utility maintenance hole (manhole),
telephone pole field, station installation practice walls,
and miles of buried and aerial telephone cable.
The $3.2 million facility is located on 15 acres in Lee
County Industrial Park in the greater Sanford, N.C., area.
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