Lake Land College is inviting the public to celebrate the Grand Opening of its brand-new Effingham Technology Center on Wednesday, July 30th. The family-friendly event runs from 3 to 7 p.m. and gives guests a first look inside the 100,000-square-foot facility, located in northeast Effingham.
Visitors can tour the building, check out classroom and lab demonstrations, enjoy giveaways and refreshments, and take part in hands-on activities. A dedication ceremony featuring remarks from Lake Land College President Josh Bullock and local business leaders will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Lake Land acquired the building in 2023 and says the new center is nearly four times the size of its nearby Kluthe Center. Beginning in Fall 2025, the new space will house all programs previously offered at Kluthe — including nursing, massage therapy, and physical therapist assistant — as well as new high-tech learning labs like a virtual reality lab, augmented reality lab, and makerspace.
President Bullock says Effingham has always played a key role in the college’s history, and this expansion marks a new chapter in supporting higher education and workforce development in the region.
The Effingham Technology Center will also be home to local partners like the CORE career academy for high school students, a satellite location for the Illinois Small Business Development Center, and office space for Patterson Companies, the building’s previous owner.
Speakers at the dedication will include Cecile Schauer of Patterson Companies and Norma Lansing with the CORE Effingham Regional Career Foundation. For more information about the grand opening, contact Lake Land College at 217-234-5253.
