First look: Rock Hill’s York Tech unveils new Anne Springs Close Learning Commons
Walking into York Technical College’s new learning commons, students and faculty will see bright colors, gaming rooms and study areas. Large glass windows bring in natural light, while strategically placed furniture allows for quiet study areas and space for open conversation.
After two years under construction, the Rock Hill, S.C., college unveiled Thursday the Anne Springs Close Learning Commons. The space will open to students on Monday.
The commons updates the previous Anne Springs Close Library, which opened in 1992. The original library, named for local philanthropist Anne Springs Close, was 20,708 square feet. The new facility is about 32,685 square feet and cost an estimated $10 million to build, according to York Tech.
“I can’t think of anything that would make me happier to have my name on it,” said Close, who lives in Fort Mill. “I’m very humbled and proud and happy to have my name on this.”
The new facility houses the college’s library along with computer stations, group study and conference rooms, an arcade and a gaming room, a cafe and the school’s academic coaching and tutoring center, a release from York Tech states. College staff also have offices in the space.
“In keeping up with growth and technology, libraries are moving away from the traditional way of doing things and the Anne Springs Close Learning Commons is no different,” the release states. “Students now have a new area where information and innovation collide.”
York Technical College President Greg Rutherford said learning commons are a new concept in higher education.
“What it does is it takes the concept of a library, except instead of the books being the star of the show, the students are,” he said. “We wanted to create something that attracted students other than just research and study.”
The learning commons is the culmination of York Tech’s “Real. Bold. Better.” campaign, which launched in 2016 following an upgrade to C-Building, now the Comporium Center. The York Technical College Foundation raised more than $6.5 million, the largest fundraising effort in the college’s history, a release states. The learning commons is one of the projects that received funding from the campaign.
Rutherford said the commons is a place for students and faculty to relax, study, socialize and eat. Students also can get tutoring and meet with teachers.
“We believe in being real and bold, but we know that alone is not enough, you need to be getting better,” Rutherford said. “We hope that people see our values in this facility. Our mission is to build our community through maximizing student success.”
York Technical College is a two-year institution that enrolls 5,000-7,000 for-credit students annually. The college also offers continuing education and corporate courses.
This story was originally published January 10, 2020 at 2:52 PM with the headline "First look: Rock Hill’s York Tech unveils new Anne Springs Close Learning Commons."
