Pathways to Success: TCAT Memphis Project Sets Standard for Workforce Training

Last year, Turner Construction Company broke ground on a project that will transform workforce development in Tennessee – the improved Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Memphis campus. As construction manager, Turner is leading the delivery of a $73-million, state-of-the-art facility built to strengthen TCAT’s active programs and provide students with the skills and resources needed to thrive in today’s competitive industries.

A modern campus for a modern workforce

Designed by 4F Design, the TCAT Memphis campus will span 54,500 sq. ft., offering advanced labs, classrooms, and training environments created specifically for hands-on education. From welding and advanced manufacturing to healthcare and information technology, the new facility will be tailored to support the technical trades that fuel Memphis’s economy.

The layout emphasizes adaptability, with environments designed to evolve alongside industry needs. This flexibility ensures the campus will continue to serve as a hub for learning for decades to come, even as the nature of work changes.

Meeting a critical workforce need

With a shortage of 315,000 construction workers across Tennessee, the demand for skilled professionals is significant. By offering training that directly aligns with industry needs, TCAT Memphis prepares graduates for high-skill, high-demand, and high-wage jobs.

Equally important, the new facility will serve as an access point for underserved communities, providing pathways to careers that sustain families and strengthen the region's economic vitality. With its modernized spaces and advanced training programs, the upgraded campus will enhance its central role in closing the skills gap.

Investing in Memphis

For Turner, the project is centered on investing in the future of Memphis. Since beginning our first local project in 1986, we’ve seen firsthand how quality facilities can change lives and create opportunities. TCAT Memphis is the next chapter in that legacy.

This campus represents an investment in students who will go on to power local industries, from healthcare and logistics to technology and construction. By preparing graduates for tomorrow’s jobs, the facility will help Memphis remain competitive as industries continue to evolve.

Building with purpose

Educational projects like TCAT Memphis carry a unique responsibility. They are spaces where futures are built. That purpose has guided Turner’s approach to every stage of this project, from preconstruction planning to the groundbreaking and beyond.

Our team understands that the success of TCAT Memphis will be measured not just by the building itself but by the thousands of students who are training today and will continue to graduate into careers that fuel the city’s growth. We take that responsibility seriously, and it’s why building with purpose is central to who we are.

Shaping tomorrow’s workforce

The ongoing upgrades to the TCAT Memphis campus will expand opportunities in the coming years, but the project’s impact is already being felt. It stands as a symbol of what’s possible when vision, investment, and expertise come together to benefit an entire community

For Memphis, these campus upgrades are a promise of opportunity, dignity, and progress for generations of students to come. And for Turner, it’s an honor to help shape that future.