VPCC Newport News Trades Center
Newport News, Va.
BEST PROJECT
Sent by: WM Jordan Co.
Owner: Newport News Economic Development Authority, Virginia Peninsula Community College
Main design company: RRMM Architects
Designer: WM Jordan Co.
Civil Engineer: Timmons Group
MEP Engineer: Collaborative rhythm
Structural Engineer: Speight, Marshall, and Francis PC
Subcontractors: Amelia Portes Aéries; Bayside Concrete Inc.; Charles Yost Custom Cabinet Inc.; Commercial roofing services; David R. Hall Inc.; JRC Mechanical; Ocean Gypsum Board; Southern Structural Steel Inc.; Tiles and terrazzo; Wolf Contractors Inc.
To support the region’s critical marine and shipbuilding industry, this $8.2 million, 16,100 square meter dedicated training facility brings together academic instruction and hands-on training in a way that reflects real-world industry conditions, creating a direct path from education to employment in the skilled trades. A 20-cabin welding lab, a full-scale maritime training lab and a 625 square meter multi-trade submarine model anchor the program, while dedicated MEP labs simulate both residential and commercial construction to support electrical, HVAC, plumbing and facility maintenance training. Flexible classrooms, offices and support spaces round out the program, creating an integrated environment where students seamlessly transition between classroom and application.
Photo by Boyd Pearman Photography
Delivering the mall in just seven months required precise coordination, quick decision-making and a unified team fully aligned around a shared goal. Early procurement strategies allowed multiple work phases to move forward simultaneously, while planning and other lean construction practices involved business partners in defining work sequences, resolving time constraints, and maintaining a reliable workflow. Daily coordination and bi-weekly on-site meetings with the owner and design team ensured alignment with the original design intent and provided regular opportunities to review and confirm quality during construction.
This high level of planning and execution also helped the project overcome a variety of challenges, the most significant of which was the discovery of up to 36 inches of unsuitable soils throughout the site, which had previously served as a landfill area. Instead of halting progress, the team quickly restructured site logistics by reducing rest space, storing inadequate material on site, and relying on just-in-time deliveries. This change allowed business partners to install materials as they arrived, maintaining progress despite limited conditions and ongoing weather impacts. When the counters shipped from Spain arrived later than expected, the team installed temporary surfaces to maintain inspection milestones and avoid delays.
