October 5, 2026

Forsyth Technical Community College is moving forward with plans to build the Learning Commons, a new academic center on main campus. When it is complete, the Learning Commons will be a central academic hub at the heart of Forsyth Tech. Designed around the way students learn, the 48,000-square-foot building will include a three-story north side and a two-story south wing, adding an eye-catching landmark to the heart of campus. The Learning Commons will have collaborative learning spaces, classrooms and study rooms for independent and group work, along with library space, faculty and staff offices, student support services, and comfortable lounge areas and exhibit space. A coffee bar will give students a welcoming spot to recharge between classes and a beautiful new courtyard will surround the building.

The Learning Commons project reflects the strong support Forsyth County has shown for Forsyth Tech. In 2016, voters approved a $65 million bond package for the college by more than a 2-to-1 margin, with $21 million set aside for the Learning Commons. Like construction projects across the country, the project has been impacted by the effects of inflation and rising building costs. When Forsyth Tech celebrated Demo Day in 2024, the project was estimated at $29 million. Today, its total budget is about $35.9 million.

Forsyth Tech has brought together several funding sources to meet that need. On Sept. 17, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved redirecting about $5.3 million in unspent 2016 bond money to the Learning Commons. That money was left over from two bond projects Forsyth Tech has already completed, the Oak Grove Center and main campus renovation and the Transportation Technology Center. The transfer raises the county bond contribution to the Learning Commons to about $22.5 million and helps move the building into construction. In addition to county bond money, the project includes about $11.1 million in state funding.

With funding coming together, the Learning Commons is entering its next stage. The college will announce the construction schedule and opening date as plans are finalized. As the final project from the 2016 bond, the Learning Commons marks a proud milestone for Forsyth Tech and the community that believes in it. Stay tuned for updates as construction moves forward.