About the Arts, Civic and Technology Center

A facility in the making since a fund-raising campaign began in August 2000, the new Arts, Civic and Technology Center opened in April 2004.

The new building hosted its first event on May 15 with a well-attended performance by the North Carolina Symphony. The concert was held in the KEIHIN Auditorium, a 1,029-seat auditorium named to honor KEIHIN Carolina System Technology Foundation, Inc., which generously supported construction. The auditorium is designed for cultural arts productions, concerts, plays, and other events that require a large venue.

For smaller gatherings, such as exhibits, wedding receptions, and other social and business events, a large exhibit hall named the Mobley Atrium is available to residents of Edgecombe and surrounding counties. The Mobley Atrium honors Jack Mobley, who left a substantial gift to the Arts, Civic and Technology Center in his estate.

Construction on the 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility began in December 2002. By late 2003, the building was up and finishing details were under way. Edgecombe Community College faculty and staff moved into their offices during April and May 2004, in time for the summer session that began in late May.

In addition to its use as a multi-purpose facility for the benefit of residents of Edgecombe and surrounding counties, the facility is providing much-needed space for teaching and learning at ECC. About 75 percent of the space is being utilized for academic purposes. Academic space includes:

• 1 Continuing Education computer/lab room
• 1 Distance Learning classroom
• 2 small conference rooms
• 3 large conference/classrooms
• 5 computer classrooms/labs
• 10 general classrooms

Teaching and learning is taking place primarily in the building's two wings, which house ECC's Business and Industry Center, the Small Business Center, Continuing Education, and Computer Studies. In addition to computer studies classes, other curriculum classes that will be held in the new building include math, English, religion, humanities, history, psychology, and sociology.

Of the total $11 million price tag, $7.5 million has been provided by the state. The balance is being funded through private donations. Hundreds of local residents have purchased and are continuing to purchase engraved bricks. The first installment of bricks has been laid permanently at the entrance to the new Arts, Civic and Technology Center.

"This is what the county deserves," Hartwell Fuller, who was president of ECC at the time, remarked shortly after the building opened. "It was built for the people, and it will serve them very well for many years to come."

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