Future Ready Complex Brings new Auto tech learning possibilities
The Auto Body Shop at the Future Ready Complex (FRC) opened in the fall of 2024. Footage provided by FRC Drone students
After spending four years fixing up his car, Senior Morgan Elder finally put the finishing touches on his ’67 Mustang. And he did it all during his high school auto tech class period.
“I’ve been in auto tech for years, but with this new space, it has opened up the possibilities for what we can really do to,” Elder said. “I’ve been able to use the paint booth and go through the painting process to really complete my car.”
The paint booth is located at the Automotive Technology Body Shop inside the GISD Future Ready Complex (FRC), which opened in the fall of 2024. The booth provides a space for students to learn every part of the tedious body paint process — sanding, priming, sealing, base coat, clear coat, taking the vehicle apart, putting it back together…you get the gist.
”After it’s freshly painted, the car gets to bake in the booth,” Elder said. “This helps the paint dry and harden, and it creates a nice finish.”
The “baking” area is a sealed off environment that protects from dust, bugs and other things that might disturb the paint. It has a temperature control that can be set up to 120 degrees, allowing for a quicker dry time.
“Having access to this paint booth is something special…something we haven't had in 20 years,” FRC Auto Tech Instructor Greg Wall said. “Two student-owned vehicles have now been transformed in this space, and we’re just getting started.”
This year, FRC Auto Tech students have completed a mustang and a truck in the paint booth, with plans to work on a suburban next.
”What I enjoy most about the paint booth is the part where we get to put everything back together and see the final result of our work,” Senior Garrett Moore said. “Plus, I can go probably anywhere now and get a job helping with body paint.”
Painting is just one of many skills taught at the FRC Shop. Students learn how to rotate a tire, change oil, engineer an electric car from scratch (yep…read here!) and even practice customer service.
“These students basically run this space like any mom-and-pop body shop in town,” Wall said. “If you come in here and are open to learning what we are teaching you, you can leave ready to walk right into a shop and start the job.”
