Construction Begins On Cellon Institute; Will Allow For New Expanded Trades Programs

Construction has begun on the Ralph W. Cellon Jr. Institute for Skilled Trades and Advanced Manufacturing, on the Northwest Campus of Santa Fe College, across from the Perry Construction Institute. 

“Currently, crews are removing concrete from the former parking lot and beginning to place sand fill in preparation for foundation work,” said Jim McCall, Senior Superintendent for Parrish McCall Constructors, LLC. The concrete will be recycled. 

Scheduled to open in Fall 2025, the Cellon Institute will allow for expansion of key trades programs in Welding and HVAC, as well as the addition of an Engineering Technology Advanced Manufacturing degree program, which also has a specialization in semiconductors. 

The facility is critical to allowing the College to meet current and future workforce needs. 

The facility is being named in honor of Ralph W. Cellon Jr., a longtime supporter of the college. Cellon has been a central figure throughout the college’s history. He helped lead the effort to secure the land where the college’s Northwest Campus is located, served as an inaugural trustee on the college’s District Board of Trustees, and has continuously served for 54 years on the Board of the Santa Fe College Foundation. 

“Ralph Cellon has been integral to the growth of Santa Fe College since its inception and it is fitting that this new facility be named in his honor,” SF President Paul Broadie II said. “He knows the power of a college education, and the need for highly skilled workers in the trades. As demand continues to grow in these industries, students graduating from our programs will be able to enter their career field knowing that they have been trained utilizing the latest technology and are poised for success.”