Last week, Rappahannock Community College officials, community leaders, and project partners gathered to break ground on the long anticipated Health Sciences building at the college’s Warsaw campus.

The 10,000 square foot facility will be constructed on land owned by the RCC Educational Foundation, adjacent to the main campus near the Chinn House. It will be the first new academic building on the Warsaw campus in more than four decades.

RCC plans to use the new space to expand and enhance instruction in its health sciences programs. The college believes the project represents a major step toward addressing regional workforce shortages while providing high quality educational opportunities that align with local employment needs.

The building will feature two classrooms, five technology equipped simulation labs, an ambulance bay and EMT training lab, secure storage areas, student collaboration spaces, and five faculty offices. Its design emphasizes hands on, real world training environments that mirror actual healthcare settings.

Programs offered will include the AAS in Nursing, the AA&S in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and various certificates in nursing, EMT, and allied health fields.

The facility is estimated to cost $8 million. To date, the RCC Educational Foundation has raised more than $7.2 million toward the project and reports needing approximately $766,300 to complete funding.

“This investment will expand opportunities for students, strengthen workforce development, and support the future of healthcare across the Northern Neck and beyond,” said Delegate Hillary Pugh Kent.