Construction is underway on Western Piedmont Community College’s new Emergency Services Training Center (ESTC), a purpose-built facility designed to meet the evolving training needs of first responders across Burke County and the surrounding region. Situated on a 41-acre site along the Catawba River in Morganton, the new campus will centralize fire, rescue, EMS, and public safety instruction into a single, highly specialized environment.
This custom-designed facility represents a major upgrade from the College’s current on-campus resources, creating purpose-built training grounds that reflect the complexity and demands of modern emergency response. The site is naturally divided by an existing road, providing a functional separation between the classroom building and apparatus bays on one side, and the more intensive training areas—including the burn tower, gas-fueled prop field, driver training course, and multi-use training pads—on the other. This separation helps promote safety by isolating high-risk activities while preserving clear operational flow across the campus.
The development also includes key support structures such as a control tower, maintenance building, and a toilet and shelter building located within the active training zone. These elements ensure comfort and functionality for long training sessions while reinforcing the ESTC’s capacity for full-day, real-world scenarios.
Designed with long-term growth in mind, the ESTC is poised for a future Phase 2 that would introduce a swift-water rescue training component—a critical regional need underscored by the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. This forward-thinking addition would further strengthen the College’s role as a training hub for both students and emergency personnel throughout western North Carolina.
With a construction budget of $15.8 million, the project is being led by Vannoy Construction and is scheduled for completion in Spring 2026. Once open, the Emergency Services Training Center will provide a modern, safe, and comprehensive environment for certification, continuing education, and inter-agency coordination—delivering the next generation of firefighters, EMTs, and public safety professionals.
Front Perspective
Future Phase Swift Water Rescue