By John Willis, MIAT College of Technology Houston President
Due to continued growth in student enrollment, the Houston campus is in the process of expanding for the second time in 24 months. We are taking on 16,000 additional square feet right next door to our current school facilities in a section of our building that recently became vacant. Our address will stay the same: 533 Northpark Central Drive in Houston, approximately 11 miles northeast of Bush Intercontinental Airport and easily accessible from Interstate 45 and the Hardy Toll Road.
Our expanded MIAT Houston campus will cover 56,400 square feet and will include additional lab space and six more classrooms, bringing our total number of classrooms to 15. Free surface parking will continue to be available to accommodate our students, faculty and staff.
I am especially thankful to Chris Kugle and John Ferruzo, partners with NAI Partners, who have been working closely with me and other members of our Houston campus leadership team for several months to lock in our new, 10-year lease agreement with Prologis. NAI Partners is headquartered in Houston, has offices in San Antonio and Austin; and is one of the largest Houston area commercial real estate brokerage firms.
We are planning to complete the build out for our anticipated move-in by mid-September 2019. In the new facility, we will have increased parking, new lighted signage, a larger resource center and a new student self-serve cafe.
Chris offered these thoughts about our expansion plans: “We were considering other facilities in the same Prologis industrial park; however, when the tenant vacated the adjacent space, we saw an opportunity for an easier, more cost-effective transition. Knocking out a few walls and remodeling is much more convenient and less expensive than a move that is as close as a block or two away. Taking over the space next door is the best solution we could have asked for.”
This expansion represents a huge positive development for MIAT’s Houston program and indicates to me that our school is welcomed and appreciated in Houston. Our student enrollment has increased almost 10 times in the past four years – rising from 45 students in 2015 to approximately 400 this year.
MIAT was founded under another operating name in the Detroit metro area 50 years ago, and our Houston program launched in 2010. Our rapid growth can be attributed to several factors:
- We offer both day and night classes, which is perfect for our students who are working full-time or part-time jobs; we employ instructors who have extensive industry experience;
- Our programs match the specific needs of employers, which makes our graduates workplace-ready in a relatively short period of time.
- We are supporting students of all ages and at stages of their life and career development such as high school graduates, career changers, U.S. military veterans, personnel affiliated with government agencies, and employers who are looking to MIAT to deliver continuing career education and workforce development for their team members; and,
- Our programs range from 3 months to 24 months in duration, which is a huge bonus for those who want an alternative to a traditional four-year degree track.
We will be hosting a series of special events this Fall to showcase our larger facility Until then, I invite you and others to schedule a tour of our campus and learn more about our programs. Please check out www.miat.edu for more information.
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