Lake Land College officially opened the doors to its new Effingham Technology Center on Wednesday evening, welcoming hundreds of community members to explore the 100,000-square-foot facility that represents a major expansion of higher education opportunities in the region.

The grand opening celebration, held from 3 to 7 p.m., drew families, students, local business leaders, and education officials who toured the northeast Effingham facility and learned about the cutting-edge programs it will house beginning this fall.

“Effingham has been a key part of the Lake Land College community since the very first days of the College, and we’re proud to further strengthen that connection by expanding the opportunities for higher education and partnerships in the area,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said.

The facility, acquired by Lake Land in 2023, provides nearly four times the space of the college’s nearby Kluthe Center. Beginning in Fall 2025, it will house all classes and programs previously offered at the Kluthe Center, including nursing, massage therapy, and physical therapist assistant programs.

One of the facility’s standout features is the new Innovation Center, which includes virtual reality labs, augmented reality labs, and a makerspace lab that will provide students with cutting-edge learning technology. Visitors at Wednesday’s event had the opportunity to experience hands-on simulation activities and demonstrations in these state-of-the-art learning environments.

The celebration featured building tours, classroom and lab demonstrations, giveaways, refreshments, and food trucks, creating a family-friendly atmosphere that showcased the facility’s potential impact on the community.

Beyond serving Lake Land College students, the Effingham Technology Center will host several local partner organizations. The building will serve as the first permanent home for Creating Opportunities for Regional Employment (CORE), an Effingham-based career academy that provides skill-building courses for local high school students and creates pathways to vital careers.

“It’s an honor to partner with local organizations that share our goal of supporting education and economic growth in the Effingham community,” Bullock said. “We are excited to see how the Effingham Technology Center will help these organizations magnify their local impact.”

Cecile Schauer, Vice President and General Manager of Dental Software Business at Patterson Companies, delivered remarks during the dedication ceremony. Patterson Companies, the building’s previous owners, has leased back space in the facility to maintain its presence in the Effingham community.

Norma Lansing, CORE Effingham Regional Career Foundation Treasurer, also addressed the crowd during the ceremony, highlighting the collaborative partnerships that will operate within the new facility.

The building will also serve as a satellite location for the Illinois Small Business Development Center at the Eastern Illinois University Lumpkin College of Business, which supports local start-ups and entrepreneurs with free advising and affordable training.

The expansion represents a significant investment in workforce development for the region, providing enhanced educational opportunities and supporting local economic growth through partnerships with established businesses and career development organizations.

Attendees were able to tour all Lake Land College partner facilities during the event, getting a comprehensive view of the collaborative educational ecosystem that will operate under one roof.

The Effingham Technology Center’s opening marks a new chapter for higher education accessibility in the region, with the expanded capacity expected to serve more students and provide enhanced resources for career preparation and skills development.

Lake Land College continues to evaluate additional programming opportunities for the facility as it works to meet the evolving educational and workforce development needs of the Effingham community and surrounding areas.