Longwood University Completes Work on Joan Perry Brock Center

Longwood University in Farmville, Va., recently announced that construction work is complete on the Joan Perry Brock Center, according to a news release. The arena and convocation center measures in at 72,000 square feet, has a seating capacity of 3,020, and will play home to the university’s basketball program. It will also provide the campus with a large gathering space for academic and cultural events. The district partnered with Skanska USA for the facility’s construction.

The university and Skanska have worked together on a number or projects, including the construction of the 84,000-square-foot Upchurch University Center and ten new tennis courts. In recognition of the extended relationship, the university also announced that it will name the lobby of the new Joan Perry Brock Center in honor of Skanska.

“This achievement marks another milestone in Skanska’s longstanding partnership with Longwood University and reaffirms our commitment to excellence in construction and campus development,” said Mark Balling, executive vice president for Skanska’s Virginia and North Carolina building operations. “The naming of the lobby in Skanska’s honor serves as a testament to the trust and confidence placed in our team, and we look forward to future collaborations to bring more innovative projects to light.”

The university held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility on Friday, Aug. 25, in front of the building’s white façade, the news release reports. The building was designed to fit in with the surrounding Jeffersonian architecture in the historic corner of campus—both aesthetically and in terms of size.

“Our partnership with Skanska has been transformative,” said W. Taylor Reveley IV, Longwood University President. “The spaces they have constructed on campus are at the center of the residential academic experience, and are well-loved by students, staff, and visitors.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Houston-Area High School Receives Best Project Award from ENR

    Tomball West High School near Houston, Texas, recently received a K–12 Education Best Project Award in Engineering News-Record’s 2026 Texas & Southeast Best Projects Awards, according to a press release. The new facility was completed in May and opened its doors to students for the fall 2026 semester.

  • Construction Begins on 100+ Acre K–12 Campus Designed for Lakota Culture

    The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST) and the Cheyenne-Eagle Butte School District in Eagle Butte, S.D., recently broke ground on a new K–12 campus that will cover more than 100 acres and serve students and families across 1,600 square miles, according to a news release.

  • Cleveland High School Breaks Ground on Modernization

    Portland Public Schools in Portland, Ore., recently announced that construction has begun on a modernization project for Cleveland High School, according to a news release. The existing building will be replaced with a new, 300,000-square-foot facility at the same site.

  • University of Washington Opens New Broadcast Studio

    The University of Washington in Seattle, Wash., recently announced the opening of Sundodger Studios, a new broadcast, production, and content facility, according to a news release. The university partnered with Anthony James Partners for the design and development of the studio, which will host about 100 live broadcasts and 120 live videoboard shows per year.