After a year of construction, Brisbane-based Hospitality Training Association Inc. (HTA) has unveiled the second stage of its $17.8m refurbishment and expansion program.

Costing $11.6m, the second stage has doubled HTA’s existing floorspace and the capacity of its teaching kitchens, created new classrooms, patisserie kitchens, training restaurant and café, and features the latest equipment being used by the industry.

HTA said it expects to spend a further $6.2m over the next three years on the final stage of the refurbishment and expansion program, which will result in five additional kitchens, lecture theatres, and a function and events area which will seat 120 guests.

The refurbishment program is the largest undertaken by the training provider in its 26-year history and is aimed at addressing the industry’s skills shortage by increasing student capacity and upgrading training facilities.

HTA now owns and operates more than 4,400sqm of space over four floors at its site in the K Tower in Brisbane.

The renovations see HTA occupying the entire ground floor of the building with new kitchen, bakery and patisserie kitchen, along with new restaurant and coffee shop.

The first floor features enlarged kitchens to cater to an expanded restaurant and function room, the second floor showcases refurbished administration and teaching facilities, while the third floor boasts a new patisserie lab.