Roanoke Higher Education Authority

The Center provides classrooms, distance learning space, and offices for the continuing education programs of 15 public and private academic institutions in southern Virginia. It also houses a daycare facility, bookstore, and library and accommodates two job training and employment services groups.

The building was the headquarters of the Norfolk and Southern Railroad for 60 years. In 1993, it was given to the Authority, which is an umbrella organization established to organize the consortium of colleges and universities. Ayers/Saint/Gross designed the renovation of this building so that each institution has dedicated office space in proportion to the size of its programs, with shared and dedicated classrooms. All rooms have common building standards for computers and educational technology to ensure easy operation by multiple users.

Ayers/Saint/Gross was the design architect in association with Spectrum Design.

Completion: 2000
Size: 154,000 gsf
Cost: $12.5 million