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

  • Harvard Announces Replacement Facility for Native American Program

    Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction will begin this spring on a new home for its Native American Program, according to university news. The 6,500-square-foot, all-electric building will stand three stories and serve as the central hub for the Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP).

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.

  • From Approval to Opening: Inside Travis Unified School District’s Fast Tracked Campus Expansion

    The Travis Unified School District (TUSD) in northern California includes several elementary and high schools serving over 5,400 students. In 2024, the TUSD Board approved the addition of sixth grade to the Golden West Middle School campus for the 2025–26 school year, setting in motion an accelerated effort to bring new facilities online in less than a year.

  • Miami University Approves New $242M Multipurpose Arena

    Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, recently announced that its Board of Trustees has approved construction of a new multipurpose arena at Cook Field, according to university news. The $242-million project will serve as a new centralized hub for student life and create space for economic development on campus.