Project Spotlight! John Tyler Community College

KSA Interiors had the pleasure of working with John Tyler Community College on a achieving their mission to “provide quality educational opportunities that inspire student success and community vitality.” In 2009, the Midlothian, Virginia Campus was in need of an additional facility to assist in supporting this mission

Completed in August 2009, the new 61,000 square foot educational facility provides academic classrooms, teaching laboratories, faculty and staff offices, a learning resource center, student lounge centers for studying and socializing, a campus bookstore (that also sells merchandise and apparel), and the campus library.

KSA's design team communicated consistently with the client to understand their need for a range of spaces that would foster student learning as well as allow the faculty and staff to have a functional working space on their campus. Working closely with JTCC and the architectural firm, sustainable principles were used in order to achieve LEED Silver certification.



Photo by Philip Beaurline

 Upon entering the facility, students can easily access the large Student Lounge that remains open for studying, group meetings, dining, and socializing. The lounge space is equipped with movable tables to seat small or large groups, movable lounge chairs, three flat screen monitors, upon which university news may be streamed and news channels may be viewed, and a central counter area with trash and recycling receptacles. Adjacent to the lounge is the Campus Bookstore which is conveniently located for students to make their textbook and college apparel purchases.



Photo by Philip Beaurline

 As some courses offered in the facility require one-on-one student/teacher interaction, the college requested smaller classroom options to allow for an intimate learning environment. The building also contains a larger multi-purpose room that can be used for symposiums and conference meetings.




Photo by Philip Beaurline

 The teaching laboratories and preparation rooms are equipped for biology, anatomy, chemistry, and natural sciences instruction. These laboratories contain custom storage for each subject, including skeletal model stands, chemistry tube drying boards, and lockable cabinetry on the back wall of each lab classroom for the security of high value microscopes and other scientific models.



Photo by Philip Beaurline

 The new contemporary library was designed to be utilized by students, faculty, and staff throughout the campus. The library includes an abundance of computer stations, surrounding computer labs (for classroom and additional workstation use), a technology help desk, information and circulation desks, collaborative tables and conference rooms for private and group study, and a vast selection of books and periodicals.

The community college has been able to increase the number of students attending their campus due to the addition of classroom, lab, and library space, as well as market to a larger selection of prospective students interested in the courses offered in the facility.

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KSA Interiors