Nearly 60 years ago, construction began on a new community college in Hampton, with Diggs, Moore and Harrison halls the foundations. Thursday, ground was broken on their replacement building, ushering in a new era at Virginia Peninsula Community College.
“This has been a long time coming,” said VPCC President Dr. Towuanna Porter Brannon, as she addressed a crowd of more than 150, including many local dignitaries. “Today, we officially begin construction on a beautiful, state-of-the-art instructional and student support facility that will welcome and serve generations of students and visitors to our Hampton Campus.”
Diggs, Moore and Harrison halls were the College’s first buildings, constructed in 1967. In those buildings, Dr. Brannon said students did more than earn degrees and certificates.
“Within those walls, thousands of students discovered new interests, prepared for careers, formed partnerships, got married and had little Gator babies, and produced what would change their lives and their families’ lives,” she said. “These buildings served us well. They were part of the beginning of something extraordinary, and today, we celebrate the next chapter with something that is going to be quite extraordinary.”
Shelley Bains, the capital outlay program manager for Virginia’s Community College, said origins of the new building can be traced back more than 20 years. She said what started as a pipedream turned into a passion project for her.
The first designs were created before the covid pandemic in late 2019, but Bains, the architects at RRMM, College officials and others soon realized changes were needed to accommodate post-pandemic learning.
“It became evident a pre-covid design was not going to work for the College,” Bains said. “We had a need to redesign it to modernize the needs of a post-covid 21st century facility. While this lengthened the design process, it was essential the building was arranged to suit the needs of the College.”
Every detail of the building was painstakingly designed with purpose in mind.
“We want every person who walks into this building to feel that they are entering a place where quality matters, where they are welcome, and where their experience has been thoughtfully considered,” Dr. Brannon said. “From our classrooms to our laboratories and the student lounges and gathering spaces, we expect every detail to be a reflection of our desire to create an exceptional environment for teaching, learning, connection, and student support.”
Funded by the state, the estimated $45 million project is expected to be completed in late 2028. It will be three stories, 75,000 square feet and feature an open concept with space that encourages gathering and collaboration. In addition to classrooms, the building will feature administration offices, a cybersecurity suite, student-centered spaces, a college boardroom, a catering hall and kitchen.
The project will consolidate functions currently spread across the campus into one facility better suited for today’s learning and administrative needs.
Dr. Brannon thanked everyone involved in the project, including countless VPCC staff members, Bains, RRMM, and Cooper Tacia General Contractors.
“We are proud to be part of this project that will enhance the educational experience for all at Virginia Peninsula Community College for years to come,” said John Cooper, CEO of Cooper Tacia. “Our company is excited to build a space that encourages collaboration among the campus community and supports learning opportunities.”
Diggs, Moore and Harrison halls totaled 58,000 square feet and housed classrooms, offices, computer labs, a multi-purpose conference room, two boardrooms, campus police operations and more. The College closed the buildings in phases beginning in 2023. Demolition was completed in early 2026 after starting in late 2025.
Dr. Brannon also noted the building isn’t just for the College’s students and staff. It’s for the community, also, featuring an executive conference room and a 250-seat event space.
Donnie Tuck, a former Hampton mayor and chair of the VPCC College Board, said one of the hallmarks of the City of Hampton since its founding in 1610 has been education.
“As we approach the 60th anniversary of Virginia Peninsula Community College, it’s more than fitting that we gather today to break ground for the replacement building for the Diggs, Moore and Harrison complex,” he said.
Finally, Dr. Brannon announced naming opportunities will be available for classrooms and labs; art and tech studios; student study rooms and lounges; patio, terraces and minor gardens; and gazebos, seating nooks and more.
“There’s an opportunity for everyone in the room and everyone on the Peninsula to become a part of the College’s future and leave a lasting legacy,” she said. “We’re inviting individuals, families, businesses and organizations to become a permanent part of our legacy.”
Those interested in naming opportunities should contact the office of the president at President@vpcc.edu.
Cooper Tacia is headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. Founded in 2003, the company has a diverse portfolio of municipal and educational building projects across the Southeast. RRMM was founded in 1988. It is an award-winning full-service architecture, planning and interior design firm with offices in Chesapeake, Roanoke, Richmond, Arlington, and Baltimore.
