Full-service construction management firm GCON Inc. joined today with project partners and leaders from the City of Avondale, Arizona and the Agua Fria High School District for a grand opening ribbon cutting of West-MEC Career Academy at Agua Fria High School.
The new West-MEC campus spans 31,000 square feet in four state-of-the-art buildings offering technical training for high schoolers in the high-demand electrical, diesel technology, welding and air conditioning skilled professions.
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The campus is part of the larger West-MEC, or Western Maricopa Education Center, a public school district that has partnered with 17 Arizona elementary and high school member districts. At present, it provides Career and Technical Education (CTE) to more than 37,000 students from 48 high schools across the state.
Located on five acres at 530 E. Riley Dr., adjacent to Agua Fria High School, the West-MEC Career Academy at Agua Fria High School is the organization’s latest campus, giving students direct access to specialized instructors, training and industry-standard equipment to prepare them for careers in the trades.
“The partnership between West-MEC and Agua Fria has reached an exciting milestone with the opening of the Career Academy,” said West-MEC Superintendent Dr. Scott Spurgeon. “More than just a campus, this collaboration highlights how strategic partnerships expand opportunities for students. The new academy opens doors for students who previously lacked access to West-MEC’s innovative programs, giving them the opportunity to gain valuable skills and earn workforce credentials that prepare them for a successful future.”
“When West-MEC, Agua Fria High School, the City of Avondale, SPS Architects and GCON first met, we shared a vision of creating new opportunities for our students, and today, that vision has become a reality,” said Agua Fria High School District Superintendent Mark Yslas. “We deeply appreciate this partnership and look forward to the many ways it will empower our students to explore their passions and pursue meaningful career futures.”
GCON served as the construction manager at risk for the West-MEC Career Academy at Agua Fria High School. SPS+Architects is the project architect.
“GCON was honored to build this campus for West-MEC,” said GCON Vice President of Public Works Tiffany Fisher. “This was an extremely ambitious project timeline, requiring building out of sequence and securing 18 different permits to keep construction progress on track. It was a huge lift for everyone involved, and we’re deeply grateful for the creativity and coordination across the entire team. Seeing students thrive in this beautiful new learning environment makes every effort worthwhile.”
Buildings at the West-MEC Agua Fria location were custom designed and delivered to support their niche purposes. The welding building accommodates multiple gasses and compressed air, and is outfitted with a state-of-the-art exhaust filtration system, allowing students to master advanced welding techniques.
The air conditioning and electrical programs are housed in a single building with its own classrooms and labs. Both spaces feature high-tech training boards and safety shutoffs, ensuring a controlled environment as students learn to troubleshoot electrical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
Designed to train students on the repair and maintenance of diesel-powered vehicles and equipment, the diesel building is outfitted with extended-height doors to accommodate semi trucks.
Other elements of the campus include various student common areas and an administration building with an open-ceiling concept, a central conference room with extensive baffling for sound mitigation, and floors finished with custom painted designs.
The building’s exterior features steel canopies in West-MEC colors, and a patterned facade created by affixing metal panels of various sizes onto a masonry finish.
The West-MEC Agua Fria campus was completed on a fast-tracked, six-month construction timeline to accommodate delivery by the start of the Fall 2025 school year. At its height, the job site was home to 125 workers and more than 20 trades.
