Austin ISD celebrated the grand opening of the newly finished 9,200-square-foot construction technology building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at Crockett High School, located on Manchaca Road. Crockett High School Principal Sissy Camacho speaks at the grand opening ceremony for a construction technology building at the school.[/caption] Rep. Paul Workman said the $2 million facility, paid for with bond funds, features 6,200 square feet of shop area as well as classrooms and an outdoor space that will be used in courses. "It's going to be a source of great pride for this community for years to come," he said. Workman said the center will be instrumental in the continued rollout of House Bill 5, which mandates that high school students must choose "endorsements," or areas of concentration, that include specialized training in fields such as science, technology, engineering and math. Austin Community College students will eventually be able to use the facility for community college classes in the evenings, Principal Sissy Camacho said. Representing the Texas Workforce Commission, Commissioner Julian Alvarez III said the new facility will teach leadership skills and offer Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, certifications. Employers are forced with a shortage of qualified applicants when it comes to skilled laborers, and the new AISD facility will help train students to meet the needs of the workforce, he said. Austin ISD's new construction technology building has tools students can use to learn new skills.[/caption] Students at Crockett will use the space, which includes two 750-square-foot classrooms, for academic coursework in carpentry/woodworking, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and welding courses, Camacho said. AISD trustee Paul Saldaña said the new building fits in with the district's efforts to make sure all students are prepared for college, career and life. Flintco in Austin constructed the building, and Pfluger Architects was the architect. Students also had a hand in putting together the stools, tables and equipment that they will use on site, Camacho said.