Staff Reports | Community Updates
Western Maricopa Education Center, known as West-MEC, celebrated the opening of its new Southeast Campus and broke ground on Phase II of the project.
West-MEC leadership, governing board members, elected officials, industry partners and community leaders gathered for the event. The celebration began with a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase II, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of Phase I. Guests then toured the campus’s classrooms and training labs.
Located on a 30-acre site along the Loop 101 corridor, Phase I of the Southeast Campus spans 250,000 square feet.
The campus was designed to connect education and workforce development in a rapidly growing area of the Phoenix metropolitan region. With more than 1,000 feet of freeway frontage, the campus is intended to strengthen connections between education and industry while highlighting student achievement, according to a press release.
“The Southeast Campus represents a bold step forward in West-MEC’s mission to expand access to high-quality career and technical education in Arizona,” Dr. Scott Spurgeon, West-MEC superintendent, said. “Upon completion, it will be the largest campus in our system, preparing students for in-demand careers while helping meet the workforce needs of Arizona employers. We are excited to welcome our first students this fall and continue expanding opportunities through Phase II, further strengthening the region’s workforce and economy.”
The Southeast Campus will welcome its first class of students on July 28. Phase I will offer programs in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, IT security, medical assisting, physical therapy and welding technology, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities in industry-standard lab spaces.
Future phases will add programs in health care, public safety, construction trades, energy systems, culinary arts, supply chain management and hospitality.
DLR Group, the project’s architect, highlighted the campus’s role in serving students and supporting regional growth.
“The Southeast Campus reflects West-MEC’s commitment to aligning education with the needs of a rapidly growing region,” Matt Brehmer, AIA, principal and architect at DLR Group, said. “By delivering flexible, career-focused environments, the campus creates opportunities for students to gain real-world skills, connect directly with industry, and support continued growth in the West Valley.”
Construction on Phase II is expected to continue toward a planned fall 2027 opening. West-MEC said it will continue providing updates on project milestones, program announcements and construction progress as the Southeast Campus expands.
