The New Roxbury Community College

Government officials, community members, faculty, staff, and students joined the RCC administration to formally celebrate the completion of the Renewable Energy Project on April 28, 2017. (Photo: Courtesy Roxbury Community College)

In April 2016, Roxbury Community College formally celebrated the start of our $72.5 million campus construction project, funded by the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). Our renovations started in August 2016 and will end in Summer 2018, with many of our renovated buildings re-opening in Fall 2017! The renovations planned for our campus will address the infrastructure updates required for the College’s long-term success.

The Renewable Energy Project — Now Complete

On Friday, April 28, 2017, Roxbury Community College hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to formally celebrate the completion of our Renewable Energy Project, which commenced in August 2016. The Renewable Energy Project includes 115 geothermal wells, 500 feet deep beneath parking lot #1, to function as a heating and cooling source. On the surface, there is parking for 320 cars, in addition to electric charging stations for up to six cars. Above the lot, there is a solar canopy with approximately 3,000 solar panels representing nearly a megawatt of power. Additionally, there is efficient LED lighting under the PV canopy deck to help increase security for students.

The Renewable Energy Project is part of the larger $20.1 million Energy Savings Performance Project, which comprises 23 energy conservation measures, including campus-wide interior and exterior LED lighting enhancement and a complete upgrade of the College’s Energy Management System. The project is expected to save RCC approximately $860,000 annually.

Opening in Sept. 2017 — RCC’s Allied Health Suite

Our Allied Health programs have always been a source of pride for RCC. Beginning in September 2017, all of our Allied Health programs, both credit-granting and non-credit, will have a home that’s reflective of their long-standing academic excellence.

The new Allied Health Suite in Building #4 includes three fully-equipped simulation rooms for maternity, trauma, and general care. The suite also includes a surgical technician operating room, a radiology lab, a full nursing skills lab with seven bays, a CNA training room, a phlebotomy training room, a new lecture hall, the CVS Pharmacy Training Center, a student lounge, and a nursing meeting room.

New Student Commons and Bookstore

Building #3 at RCC, our primary academic building, is undergoing the largest transformation through our renovations. While much of the work will continue through 2018, the first floor of Building #3 will be completely transformed for the fall 2017 semester.

The first floor of the library will be converted into our new Student Commons, which can comfortably seat approximately 300 students at a time. The Commons will include a formal food service area, equipping RCC students with an official cafeteria for the first time in years. The campus bookstore will also be renovated and expanded. Both spaces will incorporate warm autumn tones in design, creating a welcoming atmosphere.

The Student Commons will exist primarily as a large open space; however, it can split into four separate rooms for meetings, activities, and group discussions, from time to time. This will allow for even more special lectures and supplemental academic programs to be held at RCC.

“It’s vital for students, faculty, staff, and community members to have warm and inviting spaces on campus for communal activities,” says Dr. Valerie Roberson, president of Roxbury Community College. “I am looking forward to seeing the common areas at the end of the summer, and to inviting the RCC community to use those spaces.”

“This College is a hidden jewel in the city — we have phenomenal professors, great academic programs, a strong student support network, and fantastic transfer opportunities,” says Jusu Coker, RCC’s Student Trustee. “Because of these renovations, the quality of our facilities is starting to match the quality of our College.”

The New and Improved Media Arts Center

The Media Arts Center, located at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard, directly across from the Roxbury Crossing train station, is a hub for the arts in our community. Over the years, our 500-seat auditorium has hosted plays, musical performances, dance recitals, public lectures, community forums, and more. Every month, well-known local artists display their work in the Joan Resnikoff Gallery for the public to come and enjoy for free. And each summer, youth from Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, and surrounding areas enroll in the Summer Arts Intensive to master the performing arts under the guidance of some of Boston’s best teachers.

As with any facility, time takes its toll. The Media Arts Center is over 27 years old and still had all of its original components — until renovations commenced in January 2017. The DCAMM-funded renovations were completed first, which included new lavatories , a new HVAC system, energy upgrades, and handicapped-access to the mainstage in our auditorium.

Currently, the RCC-funded renovations are underway. These renovations include new chairs, a new sound system, a new lighting system, and new carpeting. The RCC-funded renovations are made possible through private donors and a generous $127,000 grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which was matched by the Roxbury Community College Foundation. The cost of these renovations is over $300,000, and we’re still raising the funds.