Located in Thomasville, NC, Davidson-Davie Community College’s (DDCC) Regional Training and Distribution Center for Emergency Response and Public Health is a response to the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing that the region and community lacked facilities to accommodate mass vaccinations, distribute supplies, and provide temporary shelter and services to displaced individuals, DDCC envisioned a modern facility that will support hands-on training for law enforcement, firefighters, emergency responders, and students while also being capable of serving the community in the event of another pandemic, natural disaster, industrial accident, or another large-scale emergency.
Opening in 1963 as the Davidson County Industrial Education Center with 176 enrolled students, the institution’s original mission was to help adults develop the skills necessary to transition from an agricultural- to a manufacturing-based economy. Today, DDCC has over 3,700 enrolled students and a wide range of academic tracks to study, including a comprehensive law and public safety program for those looking to begin a career as an EMT, firefighter, police officer, or paralegal.
With local fire, rescue, and law enforcement agencies aiming to increase staffing over the next few years and DDCC looking to expand its public safety curriculum, this phased master planned project will bolster the region’s emergency preparedness and support public health response efforts. Using insights learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, this 26,500 square foot combined project will provide the training facilities necessary to teach DDCC’s students and regional first responders.
Designed as a flexible, long-term investment in public safety education, the campus can grow over time to accommodate evolving training needs and available funding. Built in phases, the first phase of the project will include a 40-yard, 12-position indoor firing range for law enforcement tactical training, an outdoor classroom building, and a concrete training pad for hands-on training exercises. Additionally, Clark Nexsen worked closely with public safety engineers Elliott, LeBoeuf & McElwain on the burn building for fire and rescue training and a gas-fired training/drill tower. Future phases will include a Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) and Advanced Law Enforcement Training (ALET) education building, Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (EVOC), fitness trail, and additional outdoor training areas and specialty training components.
This project and its phased approach will provide DDCC with a scalable training environment that accommodates the college’s expanding public safety curriculum and the greater needs of first responders throughout the region. Expected to open in 2027, this facility will give students and public safety professionals the state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and technologies they need to train and better serve their communities for years to come.
