New BRCC tech facility officially opens Wednesday

On Wednesday, Blue Ridge Community College will formally open a new state-of-the-art home for its technology-related programs and activities.

The dedication of the Technology Education and Development Center (TEDC) will feature remarks by Henderson County Commission Chairman William Moyer, Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development President Andrew Tate, Blue Ridge Community College Board of Trustees Chair John C. McCormick Jr. and BRCC President Molly A. Parkhill.

The dedication ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in the college’s Blue Ridge Conference Hall. The public is invited. A reception and tours of the building will follow until 2 p.m.

The Technology Education and Development Center houses computer labs to support the college’s information systems, computer programming, Web technologies, networking technology and office administration programs. Technology-related continuing education courses are also based in this new center.

Space is also dedicated for training in advanced computing applications including three-dimensional visualization, real-time simulations for industry and training programs for homeland security initiatives, firefighters and emergency personnel and environmental monitoring and energy conservation technology.

This specialized environment has been engineered and constructed to house 3-D display equipment and supporting technologies. This totally immersive training system is called the CAVE and, when completed, will consist of a five-sided, ten-foot cube that surrounds trainees with life-like simulated environments.

The college’s Digital Media Center is another important component of the facility. This unit is dedicated to providing training for cutting-edge technologies needed for e-commerce, business communications, interactive Web development and broadcast technologies.

The TEDC was designed to be energy efficient by using indirect sunlight, low-energy-use florescent lights, tankless hot water heaters and highly efficient insulation and windows throughout the structure. The space is ergonomically designed to provide for comfortable and efficient instruction for students. All classrooms can be locked from the inside in accordance with safety codes to enhance the security of the building. In addition, video surveillance cameras are installed in key locations along with a paging system for classrooms, labs and corridors.

According to David Hutto, vice president for technology, “The infrastructure of the building has been designed to last. All of the data, voice, video and audio cabling and patch bays are based on high speed fiber optic technology which support both current and future broadband technologies. Wireless Internet access will be available in all locations in the center.”

“We are excited about what this facility will mean to our college and the business and industries in our service area,” said Celeste Oprean, dean for business and career services. “New programs in film production, broadcasting and electronic visualization are in the planning stages right now. Our faculty and students are eager to take advantage of what this new addition will bring to BRCC.”

The furniture for the instructional and meeting spaces in the building is modular. The goal was to establish a flexible teaching facility that could easily be modified at minimal cost to meet changing needs of business and industry. In some locations, modular flooring has been used to allow for easy upgrading or modification of lab space for specialized needs.

A major component of the building is the Blue Ridge Conference Hall. This multipurpose facility can be subdivided into three meeting spaces to support large- and medium-sized conferences for the community and region. It has been designed to accommodate trade shows, equipment expos and large-scale meetings.

Internet and power connections in the floor and walls in key locations support modular displays at any location in the hall. Wireless network connections are also available. A roll-up door in the rear of the facility will allow for cars, trucks and motorcycles to be driven into the exhibit hall if needed. The Blue Ridge Conference Hall is viewed as a vital catalyst for economic development.