The $12.6 million center, funded by a $485 million bond referendum approved by voters in 2014, will be located on Humble Road in Tomball, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. Plans for the center include a customized training rig, a modular training building and an equipment building, which will offer training in drilling, hydraulic manufacturing and other engineering technology located both on a rig and in the classroom, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.
As of early February, the college system had secured a contract with an architect, and Head said she anticipated a request for proposals for the rig itself to be sent out within 30 days.
“It’s not just for drillers; it’s for maintenance technicians, rig electricians, engineers, petroleum engineers ... and for other people that might work in the industry just to see what a working rig looks like,” she said.
Head said as the center is part of the LSC-Corporate College, students at all campuses within the system may use the center for training purposes, and she foresees local school districts also using the center.
“We’re building a large viewing catwalk around the center so the school districts can bring both parents and kids and counselors to come out and see what it looks like and have a better understanding of that part of the industry,” she said.
