New England Institute of Technology broke ground Oct. 15 on a $40 million Innovation Center for Building Sciences at its East Greenwich campus, the university said. The 45,000-square-foot building will house the school's building trades programs and serve about 1,000 students a year, which New England Tech says will double its current training capacity.
The university announced the project in January. At the time it described a 53,000-square-foot building, said groundbreaking was expected in spring 2026 and projected completion by the end of 2027. The January announcement said the center would be paid for with institutional resources and philanthropic support and would not need state funding.
The center will hold degree programs in building construction technology, electrical technology, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, plumbing and heating, architectural engineering and construction management, according to the university's Oct. 15 announcement. The university says the money will come from "institutional investment, industry partnerships, and philanthropic contributions."
"As demand for skilled workers continues to grow, we're investing in education that delivers real-world experience, meaningful career opportunities and a faster path from the classroom to the workforce," Richard Gouse, president of New England Institute of Technology, said in the announcement.
The Oct. 15 announcement says construction is underway but does not give a completion date or name a general contractor. It also does not say how much of the $40 million has been raised.
Sources: New England Institute of Technology, "Building the Builders: New England Tech Breaks Ground on $40 Million Innovation Center for Building Sciences," Oct. 15, 2026; New England Institute of Technology, "New England Tech Announces $40 Million Innovation Center to Expand Access to Skilled Trades Education," Jan. 7, 2026; New England Institute of Technology, Innovation Center for Building Sciences project page.