Young Harris College Opens Rollins Campus Center and Zell and Shirley Miller Library

After two years of construction and many years in the making, the $41 million, 121,000-SF Rollins Campus Center has officially opened on Young Harris College’s campus.

“The Rollins Campus Center would never have come to fruition without the generosity of so many that believed in the College and what we are trying to achieve for our students,” said YHC President Cathy Cox. “We offer heartfelt thanks to the Rollins family for their generous lead support in making this facility possible.”

The largest building constructed on campus to date, the Rollins Center includes a 60,000-SF multipurpose student center, 40,000-SF library honoring Zell and Shirley Miller, and 500-seat dining facility, as well as a banquet area, meeting spaces, and lounges. Taking full advantage of the mountain views, the design includes numerous expansive porches that create a relaxing space for students to socialize and study.

The Rollins Campus Center is targeting LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification. Sustainable features include the use of geothermal wells for the capture of onsite renewable energy, the sophisticated use of exterior glazing and light shelves to maximize daylight as well as views, reduced water usage both inside and out, the use of both recycled and regional materials as well as the recycling of construction waste.

“Choate Construction is honored to be a part of such a major project on this prestigious and beautiful campus,” said Millard Choate, President of Choate Construction. “We recognize that constructing student-focused facilities impacts generations of future citizens and leaders, building memories for a lifetime and creating space for personal growth.”

Constructed during one of the worst winters in local memory, the College Campus Center lost an incredible 192 days to weather. Despite this seemingly insurmountable challenge, the project was finished on time and even without using the officially allowed 90-day overage.

The project was designed by VMDO, of Charlottesville, Va., and managed by Brailsford & Dunlavey, of Washington, D.C.