Hanson Technology Center

In 2016, Progressive Companies was invited to develop a resource for Lake Michigan College's students and the surrounding manufacturing community. The college's curriculum had evolved, requiring flexibility and responsiveness to manufacturing's technological advances. The result of this collaborative effort is the Hanson Technology Center—a nearly 50,000-square-foot facility providing a future-focused technology framework coupled with an agile learning environment where students and local manufacturers work side by side, creating opportunities for innovation and growth.

The high-tech learning environment is home to a host of courses including fabrication, welding, electronics and machine tool. The facility also houses one of the few large-scale interactive Simulation Labs in the country. The center is equipped for efficiency, both environmentally and financially. Heating and cooling needs are met through use of a natural geothermal loop that brings water up from the ground to be heated or cooled, depending on weather conditions. Additionally, large exterior windows provide natural lighting that cuts down on electricity needs.

The center is a space where people from various disciplines, including the arts, fabrication, and manufacturing, can interact. The physical space is a teaching tool, showing visible electrical and mechanical systems, while an energy monitor tracks the geothermal field and building footprint. The design incorporates public gathering spaces, offering a holistic learning environment for both large and small groups to learn and develop new techniques.

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