CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carrier has opened the doors to a new training center in Charlotte, North Carolina, underscoring its commitment to developing the next generation of skilled HVAC technicians, the company said in a press release.

The 16,000-square-foot facility, which represents a nearly $4 million investment, will serve as the headquarters for Carrier University, the company’s training program.

The new center was unveiled last month with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house attended by Carrier’s commercial HVAC leadership. It’s located less than two miles from Carrier’s factory, which is marking its 25th anniversary this year.

Carrier University, established in 1929, will use the new center to host more than 1,200 students annually for in-person courses. An additional 7,400 students will participate in virtual instruction, the company said. The curriculum is comprehensive, covering technical skills, HVAC service, controls, design, and sustainable building solutions, Carrier’s press release said.

“Dr. Willis Carrier invented modern air conditioning in 1902, and since then, we’ve developed industries. Not only the HVAC industry, but significant industries built around the HVAC space. And we are super proud of that. But the piece that we are even more proud of is that we’ve helped develop careers. For folks within our organization and beyond,” said Gaurang Pandya, president, HVAC Americas, and commercial HVAC, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, at Carrier. EMEA. “I started my career as a trainee at Carrier more than 25 years back and have continued to grow across the board. The training program we have has helped develop some of the best people that we have today.”

The state-of-the-art facility features four classrooms and a product lab with fully functional systems, supporting both light commercial and applied training courses.