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

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part I

    We asked, you answered, and the results are in! Last year, we put out a call for submissions to collect our readership’s opinion on trends and predictions for K–12 and higher education facilities in 2026.

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.