The building, designed by GPD Group, will feature classrooms facing Spring Street and a large garage and lab area at the rear. According to project materials, the Automotive Technologies Academic Center will provide "a state-of-the-art center for the college's automotive program, featuring industry-leading equipment, advanced technology, and modern, hands-on learning environments."

The site currently holds a surface parking lot and a small, two-story apartment building constructed in 1970, which the college purchased earlier this year. The proposal will go before the Downtown Commission at its next meeting on November 17.

Germain Hall is one of several projects in various stages of development near the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and Spring Street. OhioHealth Hall is under construction at the northeast corner of Cleveland and Spring and is scheduled for completion in August 2027. The Ohio Center for Advanced Technology (OCAT) will be built just south of OhioHealth Hall, across Spring Street, and officials have said it will be the next project brought to the commission after the automotive building.

West of OhioHealth Hall, across Cleveland Avenue, a new 20,000-square-foot ALDI grocery store is planned. Work began earlier this fall on Opportunity Pointe, a 166-unit apartment complex south of Spring Street and west of Cleveland Avenue. A new park is also planned just west of the YMCA building and will require commission review before construction can begin.

The automotive center follows last month's approval of a new YMCA and childcare center on campus, signaling a sustained investment in the area. For residents, the cluster of projects promises expanded educational opportunities, new child care options, a full-service grocery store, and additional housing—all within walking distance of downtown. The Downtown Commission's review on November 17 will be the next opportunity for public input on the Germain Hall design.