Essex Tech Breaks Ground On $3.4M Animal Sciences Building Expansion

DANVERS, MA — Essex Tech will add 100 seats to its in-demand Animal Sciences Pathway program following a two-story expansion of the Animal Science building.

The project, which held a ceremonial groundbreaking this past week, is aimed at reducing the waitlist for the program that prepares students to enter Companion Animals, Equine Sciences, or Veterinary Science studies upon graduation.

"The Animal Sciences Pathway is our largest program here at Essex Tech, and with this expansion, we will be able to admit 25 more agricultural students each year, opening up opportunities for students who otherwise wouldn't be able to partake," Essex Tech Superintendent-Director Heidi Riccio said. "We would not be able to do this work without the support of our sending communities, our elected officials, and our state leadership. We are sincerely grateful as we continue to expand access for agricultural and technical schools."

The Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School Committee, State Representatives, students and staff, and members of the community were on hand for the groundbreaking.

The school said A 2023 study by MARs Veterinary Health, estimated that the nation will be 24,000 companion-animal veterinarians short of demand by 2030 if pet ownership continues to grow at its current rate.

The building will contain a new lab space for animal dissections and add new areas for kennels and dog training on campus. The addition will cost $3.4 million, paid for through a recent Capital Skills Grant from the state and a state BAN.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)