Richard Bland College formally opens $17M Academic Innovation Center on campus

DINWIDDIE – Calling it a “testament” to her college’s commitment to its students and the surrounding community, the president of Richard Bland College and others cut a ribbon Thursday to ceremoniously open the school’s $17 million Academic Innovation Center.

“This is all about having space that is conducive to learning,” RBC president Dr. Debbie Sydow told a small gathering outside the AIC. “You are able to do things in this space that you cannot do in a traditional classroom.”

The 24,000-square foot building, located on the Dinwiddie County side of Johnson Road, is a combination of student commons and college library. The original 10,000-square foot library was renovated to become part of the AIC, and the remaining 14,000 square feet is new construction.

The building has been online ever since RBC students returned for the 2024 fall semester. Thursday’s ribbon-cutting was just a formality.

It will serve as a student “hub,” according to RBC. Admission, academic counseling and career services all have set up shop in the center.

But Sydow said it will also serve as a nerve center for the campus and its surrounding community. Meeting space will be available for use not just by students or faculty but also by surrounding public and private sectors.

That meeting space can be adjusted for any gathering size because of the center’s retractable “skyfold walls.” With one switch's flip, the walls can be rolled up into the ceiling like how a garage door operates.

A place for sports and podcasts

State-of-the-art technology extends into other areas of the building.

There is space inside the building for electronic sports, also called “eSports.” That term refers to competitive video-gaming and is often set up for individual or team leagues and tournaments.

AIC also is host to one-button recording studios to be used by anyone for recording lectures, podcasts or any other audio-visual production. No specific skills are necessary to operate the studios, as one button controls all optimal settings – basically walk in, push the button, and start recording.

Construction on the AIC began in the fall of 2022 and was completed last spring. It was designed by RRMM Architects and fully funded by the commonwealth of Virginia.

The AIC is RBC’s latest step in rebranding itself as more than just Virginia’s only junior college. During Sydow’s tenure as president, Richard Bland has focused on building up its academic, extracurricular and sports activities, and emphasized workforce development.

“Richard Bland is the new model of higher education, and the Academic Innovation Center epitomizes that,” Charles Poston, rector of the board of the College of William & Mary, said at the dedication. RBC has been affiliated with William & Mary for decades and is now, with W&M’s blessing, trying to spin itself off as a separately governed institution.

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Richard Bland College formally opens $17M Academic Innovation Center on campus