Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 celebrated the opening of the expanded and renovated Collinsville Area Vocational Center (CAVC) today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house. The district worked with design and construction partners, including Oates Associates, Inc., to deliver the transformative campus project.
The CAVC offers modern learning environments for career and technical education and expands access to hands-on training for students across the region. Located across from Collinsville High School, the new facility increases the CAVC’s capacity and supports broader programming in skilled trades, technical fields, healthcare, education, and service industries. The State of Illinois appropriated $25 million for the expansion and renovation. The improvements are expected to increase annual enrollment capacity from approximately 600 students to 900 annually and support new high-demand programs.
Oates Associates provided civil engineering and surveying for the new building and site renovations, along with structural engineering for the pedestrian tunnel beneath Caseyville Road that connects CAVC to the main high school campus. FGM Architects served as design architect, and Holland Construction Services served as construction manager.
With the expanded center now welcoming students, CAVC strengthens a regional resource and creates more opportunities for career exploration, technical training, and pathways to employment. The investment will help prepare students for careers that local communities and employers rely on while supporting a stronger workforce pipeline across the region.
