Riverside Community College District Completes $29.3M Renovation Project

Riverside City College recently announced the completion of a $29.3-million renovation project, according to a news release. The college partnered with Nineteen Six Architects and builder C.W. Driver Companies to convert a 1960s-era academic building into a new Business, Law, and Computer Information Systems Building. The project created 34,055 square feet of new learning space and took about 18 months to complete.


Ohoto courtesy of C.W. Driver Companies

Work involved demolishing all interior spaces to create new classrooms, conference rooms, testing centers, computer labs, and a multipurpose room, the news release reports. The site formerly consisted of a two-story classroom building and four-story service tower. The retrofit united the two structures via an addition on the upper level that also made space for a lobby and main entry, circulation spaces, meeting rooms, and open study spaces.

“This is our second project with the Riverside Community College District in the last couple of years. Previously we worked on the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center at Moreno Valley College,” said Dave Amundson, C.W. Driver Companies Project Executive. “It’s another example of a repeat client that we work to grow a long-term relationship with us through new projects.”

The addition’s lower level features storefronts that provide additional interior access between the two buildings. Further new amenities include courtroom lecture space, a Cyber Security Lab, a Network Operation Center, and space for computer servers. The project was also designed according to LEED Gold Certification, the news release reports.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • UTampa Breaks Ground on STEM Academic Facility

    The University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., recently broke ground on one of its largest academic facilities ever, according to a news release. The Dickey Science Innovation Center will measure 153,000 square feet and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.