Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is offering a glimpse of what its new North Campus building will look like.
The college has posted an architect’s rendering of Building 400 on its Web site. The two-story, 38,000-square-foot classroom building will feature a dramatic, three-story lobby and mark a significant shift in the college’s architecture.
Yates-Chreitzberg-Hughes Architects, of Concord, is designing the building, the first new construction on Rowan-Cabarrus’ North Campus in more than a decade. According to architect Michael Chreitzberg, the building will set an example for future development of the college campus.
“The architectural image of the new Building 400 will be respectful of the original campus buildings with its brick exterior and coloration. However, this building, in several ways, will be a departure,” Chreitzberg explained.
“The addition of accentuating metal wall panels and a raised, curving metal roof element over the main entry signifies the building’s importance as a new gateway to the campus. Functionally, the building closely integrates classrooms with their respective administrative and faculty support spaces to give students easier access to their instructors.”
In addition, the building will have several environmentally conscious or “green” characteristics. Water run-off from the roof and the adjacent parking lot will be detained for natural removal of impurities before moving to a nearby stream. Low-flow fixtures in the restrooms and closed-loop mechanical systems will reduce water use in the building. Day lighting and highly efficient heating and cooling systems will conserve energy. Many components in the building will be made of renewable and recyclable materials.
“With its modern, technological appearance, environmentally friendly features and up-to-date educational attributes, Building 400 will be a benchmark for both RCCC and the community it serves,” Chreitzberg added.
Construction is scheduled to start on Building 400 late this year and be completed in about a year.
The building will house Rowan-Cabarrus’ Continuing Education Department; Small Business Center; community program facilities; classrooms for art, computer, GED (general equivalency diploma), pre-college and general purpose classes; law enforcement training facilities; a study lounge; and faculty/staff offices.
“Building 400 will provide much needed space for our expanding programs,” said Rowan-Cabarrus President Dr. Richard Brownell. “At the same time, Building 400, with its striking design, will contribute greatly to the beauty of our North Campus.”
The project will cost about $6.9 million, with roughly 59 percent coming from state funds and 41 percent from Rowan County.
Besides the Salisbury Post Web site, the architect’s rendering of Building 400 is also posted at www.rowancabarrus.edu/information/bldg400.html.