Kansas City Kansas Community College has completed the purchase of two former retail sites to house its technical and vocational programs.

The college purchased the 180,000-square-foot shopping center formerly owned by Walmart at 65th Street and State Avenue in Kansas City, Kan., for $1.75 million. A nearby 20,000-square-foot former Laird Noller property was purchased for $975,000.

The property will replace the school’s existing Technical Education Center at 55th Street and Parallel Parkway, which houses a wide range of skill training programs.

Renovation costs are estimated to be an additional $4 million to $8 million. College officials said that the space comes at about half the cost of a new facility.

While the college hasn’t set a firm timetable, the space could be ready as soon as 2011-2012.