MOBILE, Ala., February 6, 2025 – Bishop State Community College celebrated the grand opening of its newly renovated Carver Instructional Site today, marking a major milestone in the college's commitment to serving the Mobile community. With a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the facility, the event was attended by local officials, community members, students, faculty, and staff.
The total cost of the Carver campus renovation was estimated at $10.6 million. The project went to bid in September 2022, with construction starting the following month in October 2022. The interior renovations were completed by April 2024. Renovations to the exterior facade began soon after and were completed in January 2025. The transformation of the Carver Instructional Site ensures that students will benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and enhanced learning environments.
“This campus has been a beacon of this community for well over 50 years, so the opportunity to restore it and put the right programs in place, not just for this community but for all of Mobile, is something that makes us proud as a college,” said Olivier Charles, President of Bishop State Community College.
The updated Carver site is home to several academic programs, including welding, culinary arts, barbering and hairstyling and adult education, each featuring cutting-edge facilities designed to foster innovation and excellence. The welding department now has 80 welding booths, with plans to install 25 more, bringing the total to more than 100 booths for student training. The Culinary Arts wing gutted and completely renovated to include a baking lab, an a la carte kitchen, and a teaching kitchen, providing students with hands-on experience in a professional setting. The Adult Education department also received a fully renovated wing that includes classrooms, computer labs, and office spaces.
“I think what happens in communities, if there is no evidence of growth or improvement that they can begin to decline,” said Merceria Ludgood, President of the Mobile County Commission. “So, to see an investment like this in an established community like this means so much. It means that somebody still cares about us. People are still bringing services to us. We matter. And I think that makes the difference between a community that advances and a community that declines.”
Students also shared their excitement about the new facility and the impact it is already having on their educational journeys.
“I feel so overwhelmed with excitement,” said Zoe Wilcox, a sophomore in the Culinary Arts program. “This is not just something for us culinary students. It also shows others who want to study culinary arts that Bishop State is the place to be. Here, our instructors are also our mentors, and they prepare us to excel in the workforce and become better chefs. We learn creativity, artistry, and self-expression through food.”
Malaishia Golston, a first-time
freshman in the Welding program, echoed that sentiment: “It’s more than I
expected. Everyone here is really helpful, whether you’re on the Carver campus
or downtown. They’ll try to help you in any type of way. My teachers are great.
My instructors are great. It’s more than I expected. I never liked school, but
coming to Bishop State has changed my whole perspective.”
The Carver Instructional Site will continue to serve as a hub for education, training, and community engagement, fulfilling the mission of Bishop State to provide quality education and workforce development opportunities to the people of Mobile.
For more information about the Carver Instructional Site or to schedule a tour, please contact the Dean of Career and Technical Education, Dr. Klaus Tenbergen at ktenbergen@bishop.edu.
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