Edgecombe Community College (ECC) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newly renovated student lounge located in the Barnes Building on the Rocky Mount campus.

JKF ARCHITECTURE was selected by ECC to deliver a sizable addition to the Barnes Building. Under the project scope developed, an existing greenhouse adjacent to the Barnes Building was demolished. 1,180 SF of existing space was modernized for finishes to include new ceilings, lights, finishes, and flooring. A new area for catered food for the public school system is provided, which will include hot-cold service counter, hand sink, and prep area. A new 34’ x 28’ addition to the building was constructed to accommodate a new kitchen for food preparation. Within the kitchen, amenities include a service counter with tray slide and food trays, cashier’s station, food prep, and display area. The cooking area is equipped with a new kitchen hood with fire suppression allowing for cooking range, combination oven, and deep fryer. It also includes a three-compartment sink, hand sink, storage on shelves, and combination refrigerator-freezer. The remainder of addition is for dining and includes new charging stations, televisions, and other student amenities. The addition necessitated replacement of the existing adjacent roof.

The added space provides ECC students with more room for relaxing, studying, and access to good food. It also easily accommodates students in the “Edge Academy of Health Sciences,” an early college high school also housed on the ECC campus. The space is in close proximity to the campus store, library, and other student services on the Rocky Mount Campus, making it easier for students to take advantage of all ECC support services in one place.

The public was invited to see the state-of-the-art renovations and learn more about the commercial-grade kitchen and new food vendor, as well as the additional upgrades now offered in the redesigned lounge. The ribbon cutting celebration marked a significant milestone in ECC’s ongoing commitment to enhancing student life and providing modern, welcoming spaces for learning, relaxation, and community.