Alamo Colleges First Responders Academy Opens in San Antonio

New Academic Building opens, ready to educate first class of students

San Antonio, TX – December 13, 2023 – On December 8, future students and staff attended the grand opening of the new Alamo Colleges District San Antonio College First Responders Academy facility. The building, built by Gilbane Building Company, is slated to host its first class of students in the spring of 2024.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the successful completion of our First Responders Project, fostering a remarkable partnership with Alamo Colleges,” said Omar Garcia, Project Manager at Gilbane Building Company. “Together, we’ve built more than a facility; we’ve crafted a foundation for the future of First Responders, ensuring a positive impact on the community and empowering the next generation of professionals.”

The ground-up facility is anticipated to serve the growing population of San Antonio and meet the educational priorities of the surrounding community. The building is situated on the same lot as the previous facility and will continue to train and educate future law enforcement and first responders. The expansive 32,000 SF encompass a lobby, classrooms, a gym, and locker rooms. The training area, located in the back of the building, consists of an armory and a tactical training room, complete with a catwalk that offers a birds-eye view into the training spaces.

The project was part of the 2017 Capital Improvement Bond for Alamo Colleges approved by Bexar County. The bond program included projects throughout the San Antonio area, totaling $450 million. Three academic programs will hold courses at the new facility, two of them full time.

“It was a great partnership,” said Lacy Hampton, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor at Alamo Colleges District. “Not just working with Gilbane, but for the community, as well. The building is going to train our Fire Academy, our Law Enforcement Academy, and our Emergency Management/Homeland Security program and it’s going to have a remarkable impact on the community.”

About Gilbane Building Company

Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from preconstruction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 45 office locations worldwide. With an increased demand for private, institutional, and public projects, Gilbane remains a trusted partner in providing construction services for our Texas clients. Since 1981, we have developed a reputation for quality service and client satisfaction. The Gilbane team is dedicated to providing an exceptional client experience, prioritizing safety, creating high-quality design solutions, and delivering projects on time and within budget. For more information, visit www.gilbaneco.com.