Tidewater Community College, Chesapeake Campus Academic Building

This 60,000-square-foot academic facility serves the humanities and social sciences programs at Tidewater Community College's Chesapeake Campus. Together with the adjacent student center, it expands the campus westward and creates a new connecting green space.

Academic Spaces and Technology

The building houses 21 standard classrooms and four tiered lecture halls, all equipped with advanced learning technology systems featuring strategically placed LED displays and high-definition document cameras for content sharing and lecture capture. Additional spaces include an interior design lab, faculty offices, dean's suite, student study areas, and a versatile 200-seat multipurpose space that can be converted into a 120-seat black box theater.

Architectural Design

The modern exterior harmonizes with the existing campus architecture through thoughtfully selected materials: medium-tone brick matching the established aesthetic, aluminum composite panels, pre-cast concrete, and cast stone masonry. Energy efficiency is enhanced by low-emissivity tinted glass and a horizontal aluminum sun shading system that complements the curtain wall design.

Site Planning

The project advances the campus master plan through careful site development that preserves open green spaces and enhances pedestrian circulation. The design incorporates 400 new parking spaces and two concealed service areas on the north side: one for mechanical equipment including the transformer, emergency generator, and chiller, and another for building deliveries and waste management.

Environmental Features

Achieving LEED Gold certification in 2015, the building demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability through energy-efficient design, reduced water consumption, abundant natural lighting, and the use of low-emitting materials to ensure superior indoor air quality. These features create a comfortable and healthy environment for students, faculty, and visitors while minimizing environmental impact.