Riverland Community College—Transportation, Trade and Industrial Education Center
Client
Riverland Community College
Location
Albert Lea, MN
Program
Robotics Lab, Maker Spaces, Flex Classrooms, Diesel and Automotive Shops Student Lounge
Size
40,000 sf Renovation and Addition
Located in the Riverland Community College campus in Albert Lea, MN, the Transportation, Trade, and Industrial Education Center (TTIEC) provides higher education in the fields of Auto Services, Ag Diesel, Diesel Industrial Machining and Maintenance, and Truck Driving. This 40,000 SF project provided functional updates to all existing shop spaces and completely renovated under-utilized spaces for new state-of-the-art active learning environments.
A high-bay addition creates a new and strong departmental identity for the center, including a new student lounge and an Electronic Automation (Robotics) Lab featuring robotic fabrication equipment. Large sliding glass partitions connect these two spaces, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and bringing a sense of community for the TTIEC programs.
New south-facing windows bring natural light deep into the lower level, improving user comfort and enhancing circulation and wayfinding. The design also opens up a previously enclosed stair to create a stronger connection to the upper level of campus.
Throughout the project, highly flexible classrooms and maker spaces support different modes of teaching, from hands-on learning to more structured lecture formats. Movable partitions, oversized garage doors, and overhead utility connections all add to the transparency and flexibility of these spaces.
