New Partnership will Shape Next Generation of Designers and Engineers

WENDELL, N.C. (September 24, 2025) – In a major move to close the skills gap and fuel career opportunities, Wake Tech Community College has joined forces with Autodesk, a global leader in Design and Make technology, and Kimley-Horn, one of the nation’s top planning and design consultancy firms.

The partnership is designed to transform education for students in Wake Tech’s Civil Engineering Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Architectural Technology, Construction Management Technology, Interior Design, and Advanced Manufacturing programs.

This collaboration will deliver state-of-the-art software and curricula, immersive and hands-on training from industry leaders, and valuable real-world experience to students to ensure they gain the technical skills and certifications needed to succeed in rapidly evolving fields. The goal is to set a new standard for excellence in technical education at Wake Tech and extend those best practices throughout the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS).

The announcement was made at the college’s Eastern Wake Campus in Wendell and included a special signing ceremony. Leaders from Wake Tech, Autodesk, and Kimley-Horn signed a steel beam which will be installed in the Advanced Technology Center. The center, which will open next year, will house the college’s engineering and biotechnology degree programs.

As part of the partnership, Autodesk donated $250,000 to the Wake Tech Foundation to modernize the college’s coursework by integrating its industry grade software into the classroom, which includes: Autodesk’s AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) cloud Forma, Autodesk Construction Cloud, Civil 3D, and its manufacturing industry cloud Fusion.

Autodesk’s subject matter experts will help create new certification exams for Wake Tech students and offer workshops, training sessions and continuous learning resources for faculty – all in an effort to amplify technology’s role in the classroom and equip Wake Tech students with the tech skills they need to hit the ground running when they graduate. Autodesk will also support critical lab updates and provide funds for scholarships.

“We know the journey from high school to career isn’t one-size-fits-all—and it’s critical that students have the chance to explore the many paths open to them,” said Mary Hope McQuiston, VP of Education, Autodesk. “That’s why we’re proud to support schools like Wake Tech in preparing the next generation of professionals across the industries we serve. It’s our responsibility to provide them with the real-world experience and the same cutting-edge tools used by today’s Design and Make leaders. Together with our customer Kimley-Horn, we will help students build confidence, gain real-world skills, and chart their own path forward.”

Kimley-Horn, which has five offices in North Carolina, including three in the Triangle, contributed a $75,000 in-kind gift to the Wake Tech Foundation, unlocking opportunities for Wake Tech students through Kimley-Horn’s nationally-ranked internship program. This will create a direct bridge between classroom learning and on-the-job experience, giving students a significant competitive advantage.

“Kimley-Horn is passionate about empowering the next generation of designers and engineers,” said Nick Otto, Chief Technology Officer, Kimley-Horn. “By partnering with Wake Tech and Autodesk, we’re helping students gain the skills and experiences that will shape their careers and drive innovation in our communities.”

“This exciting collaboration will help boost our students’ technical skills, employability, and competitiveness in the job market,” said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. “Thanks to these generous gifts from Autodesk and Kimley-Horn, we can equip our students with the critical, future-ready skills they need to excel.”

The partnership is already in motion. Wake Tech hosted an immersive, day-long training event Tuesday at the Southern Wake Campus. Faculty and students learned about Autodesk’s cutting-edge software and the premier internship opportunities available through Kimley-Horn.