BOSTON–Roxbury Community College (RCC) will host a Groundbreaking Ceremony on Thursday, October 5, 2017, at 1:30 p.m., marking the completion of substantial campus renovations, the first completed at RCC since the campus was constructed in 1985-1987.
The keynote speaker is Governor Charlie Baker. Other confirmed speakers for the event include President of RCC Dr. Valerie Roberson, Chairman of RCC’s Board of Trustees and Founder and CEO of Year Up Gerald Chertavian, and President and Founder of W.T. Rich Walter Rich.
“We were pleased to work with Roxbury Community College to renovate these important buildings for the campus and the surrounding community,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The state is committed to continuing our work with the college and we look forward to many students enjoying these spaces for years to come.”
The ceremony marks the completion of renovations to the Media Arts Center (Building 1), the new Health Sciences Building (Building 4) and the first floor of Building 3, which now houses a new student commons, food service area and vastly-expanded bookstore. These renovations are designed by leading architecture firm NBBJ, whose experience working at academic institutions worldwide has led to its recognition as one of the most innovative architecture firms according to Fast Company.
The RCC community and members of the local medical community share excitement over the transformation of the former student center into a state-of-the-art Health Sciences Building. The building includes renovated classrooms, two Timothy Smith labs, a mock hospital, a nursing skills lab, and a mock pharmacy donated by CVS Health. The very realistic hospital features cutting-edge technology designed to train the next generation of healthcare professionals in Massachusetts. The new building and innovative nursing program curriculum, which includes the use of simulated patients that look like real people exhibiting signs of illness, provides students with a platform to build the skills that they need to succeed in a rapidly-changing healthcare field.
Thanks to a combination of state and private funds, the Media Arts Center is now a neighborhood destination. The auditorium has been equipped with new seats, carpeting, drapes, and a new BOSE sound system. The classrooms, bathrooms, elevators, and HVAC system were upgraded with state funds, to create a more comfortable learning environment.
“I’m thrilled to invite the community at large to celebrate these significant campus improvements, all of which greatly improve the student experience,” says Dr. Valerie Roberson, president of RCC. “These improvements show the state’s commitment to ensuring that community colleges receive both the equipment and facilities needed to prepare students for jobs in today’s competitive labor market.”
The total cost of the renovations is $72.5 million, funded by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). While campus renovations will continue through 2018, the ceremony marks the completion of a significant portion of the campus renovations, all of which were overseen by General Contractor W.T. Rich.
“Community Colleges have provided an important link to an individual’s ability to improve their skills”, said Walter T. Rich, president and founder of W.T. Rich Company. “The significant improvements at RCC have provided valuable tools for every graduate to further their goals. W.T. Rich wishes each and every RCC graduate the brightest possible future.”
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will begin promptly at 1:30 p.m., in the Media Arts Center. The ceremony will be followed by a brief reception, in Building 3, and faculty and student-guided tours of the Media Arts Center, which will begin on the 2nd floor of Building 4. For more information, visit www.rcc.mass.edu or call Jordan Smock at 857-701-1234.
Founded in 1973, Roxbury Community College (RCC) is a comprehensive, multicultural, urban, student-centered, open-access community college. RCC offers associates degree and certificate programs, online courses, corporate and community education programs, and lifelong learning programs. Our 16-acre, 6-building campus houses classrooms, specialized science and computer laboratories, the Library and Learning Center, the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center and the Media Arts Center.
