Columbus State Community College receives $2.7 million gift from Germain Automotive Partnership

Columbus State Community College has received a $2.7 million gift from Germain Automotive Partnership, which will name the new Automotive Technology building in Germain Hall. The gift comes from the owners of Germain Automotive Partnership, Rick and Libby Germain, and will support the development of the new building, as well as faculty professional development and financial assistance for students.

According to an article on Columbus State Community College’s website, Rick Germain, the owner of Germain Automotive Partnership, was quoted as saying of the investment, “The automotive industry is transforming rapidly, and dealership service centers across Ohio urgently need technicians trained on complex high-voltage and connected vehicle systems. Our dealerships have partnered with Columbus State for years because their graduates enter service bays exceptionally well prepared. Germain Hall represents a lasting investment in the students and technicians who will keep Central Ohio moving forward. We are proud to attach the Germain name to a modern facility that provides students with the tools, technology, and career paths they need to succeed.”

Construction will begin on Germain Hall in 2027 and it is expected to open to students in 2029. The 43,000-square-foot building will be specifically designed to meet the needs of the college’s Automotive Technology program. 

It will feature an integrated instructional laboratory that will immerse students in a shop-based learning environment. The lab will have twin-post lifts, in-ground lifts, alignment racks, chassis dynamometers, and twin-post EV battery lifts. Students will learn high-voltage battery safety training, hybrid diagnostics, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and complex vehicle network workflows.

Also within Germain Hall will be expanded component laboratories, which will give students the opportunity to learn precision powertrain, transmission, chassis, and sub-assembly rebuild instruction. Flexible classrooms will allow for bridging workplace dealership co-op experiences with technical instruction for programs offered by the college that include Ford ASSET and Honda PACT.

Germain Hall will be built with a focus on students and will provide a welcoming environment with student lounges and adjacent parking.

Columbus State President David T. Harrison said, “We are grateful to Rick and Libby Germain for their long-standing commitment to prepare Central Ohioans for great jobs in the automotive industry. Germain Hall will ensure our physical facilities match the high caliber of our students, our faculty, and our regional dealership partners.”

The Automotive Technology program has been housed within Brown Hall since the program launched in 1976. Its new home in Germain Hall will allow for double the hands-on instructional capacity to account for the program’s popularity, which has increased in enrollment by 64% in recent years.

The Germain’s gift will provide some of the specialized equipment for the new laboratories. Additionally, it will provide for professional development opportunities for faculty members, and will provide scholarships for Automotive Technology students who are experiencing financial need and can’t afford the professional toolkits required by the program.

For more information about Columbus State Community College, visit the school’s website.