The City of Henderson engaged the design team to develop a leading-edge facility for training and education to serve as a model for similar facilities elsewhere in the region and the country. The design team researched institutions at the forefront of design and functionality that have solved design challenges in a unique and innovative fashion. Bringing that knowledge to collaborative workshops with the city and other stakeholders, we developed the written and graphic program for the facility. The design team also translated the concepts into a basis of design including building features and characteristics drawn from the research and then synthesized with other project constraints, such as schedule and budget. The project is intended to accomodate future expansion, by adding laboratories and classrooms to the building - the early programming of the site intentionally allows for that. Combining disparate program elements (office space for the City, classrooms, multi-use rooms, and high-bay teaching laboratories proved a challenge that the desing team met through careful organization and logical planning. The team understood that the structure needed to be durable, since it serves both a long term landlord (the City), and the high traffic patterns of a teachiing institution. The structure also needs to address its place in the evironment - natural light penetrates to teh interior of the buidling, but is mediated by stone gabion walls. These walls also root the structure in this particular place - recalling and emphasizing the rocky volcanic origins of the local landscape. Opened in Fall of 2023, the Center of Excellence demonstrates the City of Henderson’s commitment to improving the lives of its residents and businesses.