Badlands Hall is latest addition to WDT campus

After a few years of planning and construction, Western Dakota Tech has opened the doors to its new Badlands Hall.

The new facility houses a diesel mechanics program and truck driving school.

It was built because the old facility wasn't meeting the industry need for truck drivers and mechanics. It features the latest technology such as an alignment pit, an in–floor truck sized chassis dyno, energy efficient in–floor heating and 3-ton shop cranes that can be controlled wirelessly.

"This means that we're going to be able to ensure that our students are leaving the diesel program and truck driving school with world class skills,” said Dr. Ann Bolman, Western Dakota Tech president. “It means that our employers are going to be able to hire people who have the high technical skill level that they are looking for and it's good for the economy because then our employers keep on reading customer demands expanding their business as they can."

The new facility will also offer simulators to teach truck driving students a variety of techniques such as driving on ice.