Greenville Technical College broke ground on a $32 million Center for Welding and Automation Excellence in April 2025 and officially cut the ribbon on Aug. 20. The 44,000‑square‑foot facility sits on the college’s Brashier Campus in Simpsonville, South Carolina, and is now the largest advanced welding complex in the Southeast.
Addressing a critical workforce shortage
College President Larry Miller said the United States currently has roughly 400,000 open positions for welding technicians. In South Carolina alone, upcoming energy‑sector projects will require about 5,400 skilled welders. “For every four welders who retire or leave the field, only one new welder is prepared to enter,” Miller explained, emphasizing the urgent need for expanded training capacity.
The new center raises the total number of welding stations at Greenville Tech from 90 to 122, and adds sixteen robotic welding stations—up from four previously. Ground‑floor stations include dedicated labs for pipe welding, laser welding, MIG welding, fabrication, and non‑destructive testing.
First AI‑powered welding lab in the nation
One of the center’s headline features is the United States’ first artificial‑intelligence‑driven welding laboratory. The AI system provides real‑time feedback on technique, helping students master precision skills faster than traditional methods.
“Students will develop skills that lead to highly successful and meaningful careers and the opportunity to build lives both for themselves and for families,” said Chad Cousins, board chair of the Greenville Tech Foundation. The second floor houses breakout rooms and study areas with overhead views of the active welding stations, encouraging teamwork and curiosity.
Community partnership expands capacity
Greenville County Schools will repurpose the former welding space on the Brashier Campus, expanding classroom capacity from 120 to 486 seats—a 305 % increase. The partnership aims to supply local manufacturers with a steady pipeline of qualified workers.
The project was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood and built by Thompson Turner Construction. Funding includes $15 million from the South Carolina General Assembly, $3 million in federal funds secured by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, and additional monetary and equipment donations from local businesses and foundations.
Looking ahead
Classes in the new center begin Monday, Aug. 24. Greenville Tech plans to honor future graduates with a “Wall of Graduates” that will display the names of alumni and the employers who hire them, reinforcing the link between education and the regional economy.
“I can’t wait to see that wall fill up,” Miller said. “We want to celebrate our students’ success, but more importantly, we want to recognize the employers who are hiring them to inspire our current students.”
Original reporting: Greenville Journal — read the source article.
