Perry Tech Breaks Ground on New Building

Perry Technical Institute made history today by breaking ground on a 38,000-square-foot building.

The project marks the first time in the 75-year history of the school that Perry Tech has expanded outside the original campus. The new building will house the school’s Instrumentation & Industrial Automation Technology Program.

“We are excited to be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the school by expanding our campus,” said Perry Tech President Christine Coté. Perry has experienced phenomenal growth, with enrollment up 96 percent over the past 10 years. “In order to continue to grow and serve more students, we need to expand,” she said.

The new building is being named Plath Hall in honor of longtime Perry supporters, the late Fred Plath and his wife, Dorothy. In addition to housing the Instrumentation Program, Plath Hall will allow for expansion of the electrical, welding and machine programs, and free up space for the addition of new training programs. Construction of the $8 million building is being funded through donations and grants.

Designed by the Yakima firm of Brockway, Opfer, Raab Architecture, the facility mimics the industrial nature of the Perry campus. Plath Hall is being built northeast of the main campus on property owned by the school. Tri-Ply Construction is the general contractor for the project.

Harriet I. Perry founded the school in 1939 as a memorial to her late husband, John M. Perry. The school currently offers 10 training programs.