Pinellas Technical College Celebrates Grand Reopening Ceremony

CLEARWATER, FL — The state's oldest technical college will unveil $18.5 million in renovations during a grand reopening ceremony Thursday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m.

For the past 18 months, the Clearwater campus of Pinellas Technical College at 6100 154th Ave. N. has been under construction and on Thursday visitors will have a chance to tour the newly renovated 42-acre campus, which offers more than 30 programs.

Opened in 1962, Pinellas Technical College was the first public technical training school in the state. After 57 years of providing technical courses to thousands of students, the Pinellas County School Board decided in 2017 that the school was due a facelift.

The project included construction of two new classroom buildings and installation of a pre-engineered metal structure for outdoor automotive repairs. Four more classroom buildings were re-roofed.

Other renovations included updated restrooms, improved mechanical systems, new ceilings, energy-efficient LED lighting and low-voltage systems.

Additionally, the administration areas, student services, nursing classroom labs, HVAC instructional space, automotive and welding instructional space and the cosmetology classroom were overhauled.

The grand reopening ceremony will include statements from students on the impact the school has had on their lives, a production by students in the Staged Production course and refreshments by culinary arts students.

Pinellas Technical College offers full-time certificate programs, apprenticeships and short courses at its two campuses in Clearwater and St. Petersburg as well as online.

Among the full-time certificate programs at the Clearwater campus are software development, automotive service, baking and pastry arts, barbering, cabinetmaking, child care center operations, information technology, cosmetology, interior decorating, practical nursing, marine services, culinary arts and hospitality, web development and welding.

The Clearwater campus also offers apprenticeships in air-conditioning, refrigeration and heating; building maintenance repair, electrician and machining.

Those interested in learning more are invited to attend an Apprenticeship Career Fair Thursday, Nov. 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Clearwater campus. There will be representatives from manufacturing, construction, childcare and information technology industries in attendance.

For more information, contact Mariana Leslie at lesliema@pcsb.org.