Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The Newport News Trades Center, a 16,000-square-foot Virginia Peninsula Community College workforce facility in Newport News, Va., was named “Best Small Project” in Engineering News-Record’s 2026 East Best Projects. Its defining feature is the way it combines trade classrooms with purpose-built spaces for welding, maritime work and simulated construction tasks. ENR’s project profile also highlights the seven-month construction schedule and the site constraints the team had to manage.
What the Newport News Trades Center is for
Located at 520 21st Street, near Newport News Shipbuilding, the center is intended to expand the local pipeline of skilled tradespeople for shipbuilding and construction workforce needs. Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC) says the facility supports training aligned with Navy shipbuilding goals as well as regional employer needs. The college’s facility page lists programs in welding, marine electrical, structural fitting, coatings, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and facilities maintenance.
At the July 2025 groundbreaking, VPCC Vice President for Workforce Development and Innovation Todd Estes described the facility as part of the college’s effort “to expand training capacity to meet our region’s evolving talent needs and to support national defense readiness.” That is the project’s stated purpose, not evidence of a measured employment outcome.
Why ENR named it Best Small Project
ENR’s 2026 East Best Projects profile recognizes the project as “Best Small Project.” W.M. Jordan Company also announced Best Small Project recognition from ENR MidAtlantic; the regional labels differ between the two publications, so this article uses the East edition named in ENR’s project profile.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- Valued Carpenter Pencil Set: You will get 2 pcs solid carpenter pencils with 26 piece 2.8 mm refills, 1 replaceable sharpener, 1 plastic storage box.The complete carpenter pencils combination allows you to finish your work faster and more easily
- Deep Hole Marker Pencil: The deep-hole construction pencils adopts 45mm elongated tip design, which is more convenient to mark in the small hole or in other tight areas that other carpenter markers cannot reach
- Carpenter Pencils with Sharpener: The sharpener is screwed into the top of the work pencil, which won't get lost either. Built-in pencil sharpener that keep the lead with pointed and smooth to Improves line of sight in fine work
- Stronger Solid Lead: This work pencil is matched with a 2.8 mm thick lead , which is much thicker and stronger during the drawing process of construction work, it will not break or damage easily
- Marks on Various Surfaces: 3 colors solid construction pencil can marks on various surfaces,such as metal, plastic, wood, paper etc. Ideals for woodworkers, contractors, craftsmen, builders, merchants and masons
The profile describes a facility organized around hands-on workforce instruction, delivered on a constrained site within a fast schedule. It does not publish the judges’ formal scoring criteria, so the award should not be attributed to a particular criterion beyond the project elements ENR describes.
Training spaces connect instruction with practice
ENR’s description details the center’s combination of trade-specific work areas and conventional teaching space. The main practical-training features include:
Rank #2
- Ergonomically Designed: Work in tight areas with a compact design that gets into tough spots
- Compact and Lightweight: Both tools are designed to fit into difficult to reach spaces. The 1/4" impact driver has a length of 5.55 in. and weighs just 2.8 lbs, while the 1/2" drill/driver measures only 7.5 in. and weighs 3.6 lbs
- Both the DEWALT impact driver and electric drill driver feature integrated LED work lights with a convenient 20-second delay, ensuring enhanced visibility in dimly lit or challenging work areas
- One-Handed Loading - Keep one hand free with a 1/4 in. hex chuck that accepts 1 in. bit tips
- Power drill cordless with 1/2" single sleeve ratcheting chuck provides tight bit gripping strength, making bit changes faster and more secure
- A welding lab with 20 booths.
- A large maritime training lab.
- A 625-square-foot, multi-trade submarine mock-up.
- Mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) labs that simulate residential and commercial construction for electrical, HVAC, plumbing and facilities-maintenance training.
Flexible classrooms, offices and support areas round out the program. VPCC’s current facility page also lists coatings, marine electrical and structural fitting training, complementing the trades practiced in the dedicated labs.
Reported area, cost and capacity
Published figures vary slightly by source and should be read as attributed reports, not as a single reconciled project account.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #3
- 【Great Compatibility】This Katerk 1/4 inch hex shank bit holder is specifically designed for 1/4 inch hex shank drill bits. It's compatible with most 1/4 fast hex handles, hex sockets, various electric screwdrivers, and handheld screwdrivers. The bit holder makes it a valuable addition for any handyman.
- 【Secure and Safe】Built with a secure backup nut design, each drill bit holder securely locks onto your bits, ensuring they stay firmly in place. Additionally, our bit holder incorporates a high-quality steel ball rolling design that holds up to several kilograms of weight, ensuring your various drill bits don't fall off.
- 【Easy One-Handed Operation】The bit holder for impact driver allows you to change bits single-handedly, simplifying your workflow. Its multi-color design further allows for quick identification of the drill bit you need.
- 【Compact and Convenient】Thanks to its compact size, this 1/4 inch bit holder is easy to carry around. The bit holder allows for easy attachment to various tools, making this a convenient addition to your construction accessories. The Katerk bit holder is cast from high-quality alloy material, promising a long product lifespan. Despite its rugged strength, the bit holder remains lightweight, making it portable.
- 【Cool Christmas Gift For Men Stocking Stuffers】 This screwdriver bit holder, driver bit holder, impact bit holder, can be given as a gift to your loved one, especially for anyone involved in construction or electrical work. It's a must-have for stocking stuffers for men and women, tools gifts for dad, tech gadgets for men, gifts for dad, gifts for him, gifts for husband, gifts for boyfriend, cool gadgets for men, and cool gifts for dad.
| Measure | Reported figure | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Building area | 16,100 square feet | Engineering News-Record, 2026 East Best Projects profile. |
| Building area | 16,000 square feet | Virginia Peninsula Community College facility page. |
| Project cost | $8.2 million | Engineering News-Record, 2026 East Best Projects profile. |
| Project cost | $9 million | VPCC’s March 25, 2026 opening announcement; a rounded figure that differs from ENR’s report. |
| Annual capacity | More than 400 students per year | VPCC’s July 31, 2025 groundbreaking announcement and March 25, 2026 opening announcement; announced capacity, not an enrollment or placement result. |
VPCC’s groundbreaking announcement also says the project received a $457,000 Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program grant in 2024. The figure describes grant support, not a student outcome or a total project-cost reconciliation.
How the team managed the schedule and site
ENR reports that the project was delivered in seven months. According to the profile, the team used early procurement, overlapping phases, pull planning, lean construction practices, daily coordination and biweekly onsite meetings with the owner and design team. These are methods described in ENR’s project account, not independently audited performance measures.
Rank #4
- Long Nib and Deep Hole Marker: Our mechanical carpenter pencil with 45mm nib is designed for easy marking of deep holes or narrow areas. These construction pencils are the great choice for woodworking tools, construction tools, carpenter tools, contractor tools, wood carpentry tools and architect tools
- Extra Refills in 2 Colors for Versatile Marking: The construction mechanical pencil comes with 12 extra 2.8mm refills, including 6 red and 6 black refills. The black refill is suitable for light surfaces, while the red wax is perfect for dark surfaces. Our carpenter mechanical pencil makes sure that you'll have an ample supply for extended use
- Built-in Sharpener: Our construction pencil comes with a built-in sharpener to ensure the mechanical pencil tip is always sharp and ready for use. Never buy an extra pencil sharpener again. A great tool for any woodworker pencil, contractor pencils. The refill can easily be extended or retracted with a simple click of the pencils mechanical, allowing you to work more efficiently and accurately
- Portable Clip Design: Our deep hole construction pencil features a portable clip design, easy to carry and attach to your pocket or tool box, so that you can keep the carpenter pencils mechanical close at hand, making it a convenient tool to have on the go. Great gifts choice for carpenters
- Stronger Pencil Lead: The black refills are made of lead, sturdy and smooth. The red refills are made of wax, clear and light. These marking pencils are much thicker and stronger than normal pencils during the marking process of construction work, suitable for various surfaces, such as glasses, metal, boards, floors, walls, furniture, etc. The written marks can be easily wiped with a wet paper towel when needed
The profile says the site had previously been used as a dump area and contained up to 36 inches of unsuitable soil. Limited laydown space constrained storage. To keep work moving, the team reportedly stockpiled unsuitable material onsite and used just-in-time deliveries so trade partners could install materials as they arrived.
Weather and delivery constraints continued during construction. Countertops shipped from Spain arrived later than planned; ENR reports that temporary surfaces allowed the team to maintain inspection milestones without delaying the schedule.
Best Value
- Milwaukee Ink all Fine Point Marker, Black, 4 Per Pack
- 4 per pack Features Clog Resistant Marker Tip Writes through Dusty, Wet and Oily Surfaces Durable Marker Tip for Writing on Concrete, OSB and Rough Surfaces
- Clog resistant tip writes on dusty, wet and oily surfaces and is optimized for rough surfaces such as OSB, cinderblock and concrete
- Hard hat clip- attaches for easy access
- Quick dry time with reduced smearing and marking
Project team and key dates
ENR identifies the Newport News Economic Development Authority and VPCC as owners, RRMM Architects as lead designer, and W.M. Jordan Company as design-builder. The profile names Timmons Group as civil engineer, Pace Collaborative as MEP engineer, and Speight, Marshall & Francis P.C. as structural engineer. Named subcontractors include Amelia Overhead Doors, Bayside Concrete, Charles Yost Custom Cabinet, Commercial Roofing Services, David R. Hall, JRC Mechanical, Ocean Drywall, Southern Structural Steel, Tile & Terrazzo, and Wolf Contractors.
VPCC says construction began August 12, 2025, and the center officially opened March 25, 2026. The college’s opening announcement describes the project as a $9 million facility intended to serve more than 400 students annually.
What the award and capacity figures do—and do not—show
The project puts substantial hands-on training space close to a major shipbuilding employer and local construction workforce needs. But the available announcements establish intent and planned capacity, not how many students ultimately enroll, complete a program, enter a trade or secure jobs. No placement rate or long-term employment measure is reported in the cited project pages.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
