Expanded Emergency Services Training Center

More Space, Stronger Training for Police, Fire EMS

Oakland Community College students and local agencies will benefit from new and expanded facilities planned on the Southfield campus (2026-27) and Auburn Hills campus (2027-28):

• Dedicated driving pad (planned for Fall, 2026)
• Indoor tactical simulation lab (planned for Fall, 2028)
• Indoor firearms range (handgun and rifle) (planned for Fall, 2028)
• Expanded classrooms (planned for 2027-28) 

Better Scheduling, More Training Options

With a flat expanse of pavement, the new dedicated driving pad on the Southfield campus will dramatically improve vehicle-based training. Lab sessions can be scheduled seven days a week, increasing access for both student and partner agencies.

The driving pad design includes space and striping for:  

• Standard and modified maneuvers
• Evasive driving techniques
• Lane changes, turns and serpentine courses

The secured site will also include participant parking, a maintenance garage and restrooms, creating a complete, self-contained training environment. 

Fully Immersive Training Environment

The new indoor training facility on the Auburn Hills campus will include realistic one- and two-story environments with a school, office, restaurant and convenience store. These spaces connect seamlessly with the existing outdoor simulated city, which features homes, a motel, a bank and a five-story fire training tower.  

Together, the indoor and outdoor facilities will offer OCC emergency services academies and outside agencies a full range of industry-leading, scenario-based training options. 

“Our existing facilities are booking two years out. Our communities need these facilities, and the demand is high. This expansion will open additional opportunities to train more students and partner agencies, building safer communities.”

– David Ceci, Executive Director of Emergency Services Academies and Dean of Public Services 

Simuation Labs = Gold Standard

Simulation labs benefit both students and working professionals. Community service agencies use OCC’s simulated city to practice coordination across multiple services that need to work together in a crisis, from dispatch to EMS and beyond.

After practicing a scenario, classes debrief, process the experience and draw the necessary threads together into a complete learning experience. Expanded classrooms and new student lounge will provide dedicated space for this essential phase of a sim lab, as well as additional public service academy courses. 

More Complete and Cohesive Education

The new space design details will deliver a more complete, hands-on training experience. For example: 
Windows and doors are built for repeated use in forced entry and emergency access scenarios 
Carefully planned ventilation allows vehicles to operate indoors and smoke to be used safely during exercises

The expanded facilities will also include a 15-lane firearms practice range, including five lanes with rifle distance capabilities. This is one of the few indoor facilities for rifle practice in the tri-state area. Having the range adjacent to the tactical labs and classrooms allows for more integrated and comprehensive training.

Administrative and teaching offices will also be remodeled and expanded as part of the project, improving student access to instructors and staff.

“You can use all these different buildings for any kind of scenario you can imagine. It’s just nice to have this hands-on learning instead of sitting in a classroom. OCC is the best.”

– Jon Roberts, OCC triple alum (Fire, EMT, Police).