Location: Petersburg, VA
Unused since 2010, Ernst Hall at Richard Bland College of William & Mary was constructed in 1967 as an academic building, housing classrooms, science labs & offices, and has remained unchanged since then. From the outset and during the initial conditions assessment, the RRMM project team had to address remaining science lab configurations / infrastructure including mercury glass piping and hazardous material abatement as well as building and roof envelope concerns and new IT/technology requirements. The focus of the renovation was to provide flexible student learning spaces, including classrooms, seminar spaces, facility and admin offices, and student lounge / study spaces. A 200-seat lecture hall, which is the only auditorium space on campus, was renovated and expanded to a multi-story space to support larger classes and special events. The redesigned academic spaces evolved as a result of an intensive programming exercise conducted on campus with faculty, staff and the RRMM team. The innovative teaching philosophies proposed by RBC leadership led to an RRMM design which integrated technology into flexible learning spaces that promote more interaction between students and faculty.
This project is IgCC Certified.