On Friday, August 29, 2025, Tolles Career & Technical Center officially broke ground on a $30 million expansion that will transform career-technical education opportunities for students across Central Ohio.
The 50,000-square-foot addition will include state-of-the-art labs and learning spaces for Tolles’ growing pre-nursing, early childhood education, welding, and construction programs. With record enrollment this school year, the expansion will allow Tolles to serve more students while meeting the evolving needs of Ohio’s workforce.
“This project is more than bricks and mortar – it’s an investment in Ohio’s future,” said Dr. Todd F. Hoadley, Superintendent of Tolles Career & Technical Center. “By expanding our programs, we are preparing the next generation of skilled workers, healthcare professionals, and educators who will strengthen our local economy and lead our communities forward.”
The groundbreaking ceremony brought together Tolles Board of Education members, staff, students, elected officials, and community partners to celebrate this historic milestone. Preschool students from the Early Childhood Education program led the Pledge of Allegiance, while speakers included Superintendent Hoadley, Board President Angie Bouic, Pre-Nursing Student Representative Gael Juarez-Perez, and Construction Technologies Instructor Jesse Fry.
The expansion project is being designed and built in partnership with Fanning & Howey Architects and Ruscilli Construction. Construction will take place on two sides of the existing campus and is expected to be completed in time to welcome future classes of Tolles students.
For more than 50 years, Tolles has proudly served its partner districts—Dublin, Fairbanks, Hilliard, Jonathan Alder, London, Madison-Plains, and Jefferson Local—by preparing students for college, careers, and life. With a 95 percent graduation rate and a 97 percent placement rate, this expansion strengthens the school’s mission and ensures students continue to thrive for decades to come.