Mountainland Applied Technology College opened a new automotive technology building in American Fork Sept. 21.

The new building, on the campus at 756 E. Pacific Ave., is 22,000 square feet and brings the total instructional space in American Fork to approximately 50,000 square feet.

Included are eight hoists to let the students view the workings of the vehicles. There is a computer technology area and the facility can accommodate up to 30 students in each class setting.

There is also a locker room and washer and dryer where students can wash rags, uniforms and shirts.

"The individual has to take an automotive fundamentals class first," said MATC spokesman Mark Middlebrook. "Then they can move onto technology, such as brakes, transmissions, alignments and other more specialized items."

"We've needed to provide more space for a very popular program," said Rob Brems, president of MATC. "Retrofitting the former lumber storage structure from the old Ace Hardware operation allowed us to add this space for around $50 per square foot, about a third of what new construction costs these days."

MATC Board Chair Ann Horner said the new center also added to student safety.

"As a board of directors we've watched the automotive program grow at a very dramatic rate," she said. "It was absolutely necessary to expand and we're extremely proud of how the new facility has turned out."

The college partners with Alpine School District for the American Fork campus.

Seventy percent of the more than 1,500 students enrolled on the American Fork campus are high school students. Most of the students are from north Utah County. Those who are out of high school have to pay their own tuition, while high school students are funded through the district.

This story appeared in North County on page A13.