NRCC History Book

28 library, the Instructional Technology Center (ITC), the Learning Enrichment Achievement Program (LEAP) Center, and the stair tower. To increase occupancy limits and add storage space, the bookstore in Martin Hall was expanded and renovated. The student lounge was also refurbished. During the last phase of the college refurbishing project, offices in Rooker Hall, including the Financial Aid Office, Rooker 117, and technology labs were renovated. Many changes took place on the college grounds during the first decade of the 21st century. In 2003 the safety of drivers using the Route 11 entrance to the college and merging with drivers coming off the Route 100 exit ramp was a concern to the college. A solution involved acquiring a 40-acre tract of land adjacent to the southwest corner of NRCC’s campus to move the Route 11 entrance farther south and expand the size of the campus. Moving the entrance was completed in 2015. In addition, the renovation of the traffic circle outside of Godbey Hall was completed to remove traffic from the parking lot area. To increase the visibility of the college, a large, illuminated sign was placed on the lawn near the Route 100 entrance in 2009. Also, new sidewalks, curbing, and outdoor furniture were improvements made during this decade. An outdoor learning park and a new maintenance building were added to the campus between 2000 and 2009. The Mall Site . In the early 2000s, over 40 percent of all NRCC students were from Montgomery County. To serve students from this region and to increase the college’s presence in Montgomery County, NRCC continued to offer courses at Appalachian Hall located at 412 Roanoke Street, Christiansburg. In addition, general education courses were offered at Blacksburg

Middle School, Christiansburg Middle School, and Blacksburg High School after 3 p.m. and during the evening hours. As enrollment continued to increase, the college searched for a centralized location to serve students. In 2005 NRCC requested approval to establish an off-campus site in the New River Valley Mall area to provide credit and non credit courses. Regal Cinemas had built a new complex off the premises, so the mall was looking for a new tenant to replace the movie theater inside the mall. After two years of negotiations and planning, NRCC secured the site as an additional instructional space. Regal Cinemas vacated the location on March 15, 2007, and demolition and con struction to convert the theater into class rooms and offices began the next day. The college officially occupied the space on July 15, 2007, and had a month to get everything moved and functioning before Fall 2007 classes started. The new space had 23,000 square feet on the main level with 14 class rooms, offices, and labs. The second-floor space consisted of 5,000 square feet. The site included over 100 computers, a distance learning classroom where teachers could broadcast their lectures, and two classrooms set up as auditoriums. Linda Claussen, director of distance education and off-campus services; Candy Mady, coordinator of off-campus services; Tony Nicolo, director of Facilities Services; the Facilities Services staff; and Mike Poldiak, manager of the New River Valley Mall, are a few of the individuals who worked diligently on this location. On August 21, 2007, fall classes were held at the college’s mall site, with more than 700 students enrolled in at least one of the 80 classes offered. On November 15, 2007, the college held an open house at the mall site.

Chapter 1