Metropolitan Community College Begins Sarpy Campus Construction

“Emergencies don’t happen within the boundaries of a single profession, department or community,” said MCC president Randy Schmailzl, as Metropolitan Community College prepares to break ground on its new Sarpy County Campus.

Metropolitan Community College and the Nebraska Philanthropic Trust are starting construction on the college’s First Responder Education and Training Center southeast of Highways 50 and 370. The 90,000-square-foot facility marks the first of many phases on MCC’s 144-acre Sarpy campus, which is the institution’s first full-service campus in more than 40 years.

The facility is designed to bring together three core academic offerings: Fire Science Technology, Emergency Medical Services, and Criminal Justice programs. By housing these disciplines under one roof, the center aims to establish a regional destination for workforce training and multi-agency collaboration in Nebraska’s fastest-growing county.

Kiewit has already completed preliminary site work at the location. Weather permitting, building construction is scheduled to begin later this month.

The infrastructure will feature a two-story academic and training facility alongside a tactical training warehouse, advanced EMS and fire simulation labs, technical rescue training environments, and virtual reality skills labs. These spaces are configured to support both classroom instruction and hands-on, scenario-based exercises for students and working professionals alike.

“The opportunity here is to create a place where students can prepare for meaningful careers while experienced professionals and agencies train together in ways that reflect what happens in the real world,” Randy Schmailzl explained. “When people have practiced working together before an emergency occurs, they are better prepared to work together when their communities need them most.”

The project addresses a persistent regional demand for skilled firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and law enforcement officers across Nebraska and western Iowa. MCC operates the only college-based fire science training program in Nebraska.

Patrick Morris, president of the Nebraska Philanthropic Trust, noted that donor support drove the project forward. “This project is becoming a reality because of the extraordinary generosity of donors who believe in the people who step forward to serve their communities,” Morris said.

Future phases for the 144-acre campus could introduce additional academic buildings, student housing, dining options, retail spaces, and dedicated greenspace as development continues.