Rhode Island College Breaks Ground on New Technology Building, Announces Name Change for School of Business

Rhode Island College today officially broke ground on a new academic and technology building and announced that its School of Business, which will be the primary occupant of the new building, will henceforth be known as the School of Business & Technology.

The construction of the new facility will replace Whipple Hall, one of the “Original Six” buildings on campus in 1958, with a state-of-the-art home for the school’s academic degree programs in computer science, information technology, cyber security, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. It will also house the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies, which was launched in 2023 by Gov. Dan McKee and RIC alumnus and former Congressman James Langevin, who serves as its distinguished chair, to meet the growing need for cybersecurity research, education and training.

The $73 million project was funded by a $160.5 million higher education bond approved by voters in 2024. (The remainder of the bond will fund construction of a new biomedical sciences building at URI.) Construction of the new building is expected to be completed in winter 2028, with full occupancy planned for summer 2029. The project will demolish the existing structure; the new building will be sited further west on the lot, bringing it closer to Alger Hall, which is also used by the School of Business & Technology. The campus steam plant, which is adjacent to the current Whipple Hall, will remain in place and be renovated.

The new building will include state-of-the-art computer, fintech, digital forensic and emerging technology labs, a dedicated cyber range facility, and classrooms equipped with the latest technology. It will also include a central forum for events and collaborative workspace, as well as faculty offices.

“Rhode Island College has been preparing Rhode Islanders for the jobs of the future since 1854 and this new technology building will continue our proud tradition of powering the state’s future through cutting-edge education and in-demand, career-focused academic programs,” said Dr. Jack R. Warner, President of Rhode Island College. “Our newly renamed School of Business & Technology is leading that work by developing a high-tech center of excellence for some of our nation’s most critical and fastest-growing industries. We are grateful to Gov. McKee, our legislative leaders and the people of Rhode Island for investing in our students’ success.”

“Investing in Rhode Island College is an investment in our state’s future,” said Gov. Dan McKee. “Launching the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies in 2023, in partnership with President Warner and former Congressman Langevin, was a key part of my vision to reimagine RIC as a college of choice and prepare students for good-paying jobs in a fast-growing industry. The new construction will build on that progress and give students the tools to succeed.”

“When we launched the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies, including artificial intelligence, our vision was to make Rhode Island a leader in these rapidly growing fields while preparing students for good-paying, in-demand careers. In just three years, we have made tremendous progress, expanding academic programs, building partnerships and providing students with hands-on, real-world experience,” said James Langevin. “Today’s groundbreaking marks an exciting new chapter in that work. Thanks to the support of Rhode Island’s leaders and voters, this investment will allow us to build on our success, expand opportunities for students and strengthen our ability to help businesses, municipalities and nonprofit organizations address increasingly complex cybersecurity challenges.”

The name change from the School of Business to the School of Business & Technology reflects its expanded technology offerings, which now include degree tracks in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Information Systems, Computer Science and Cybersecurity, as well as its stewardship of the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies.

“The replacement of Whipple Hall with a new, high-tech building will represent the physical embodiment of this closer connection between business and technology,” said Dr. Susan F. Weiss, Interim Dean of the School of Business & Technology. “This dynamic institution continues to evolve from its roots as the School of Management and will serve as a crucial engine for economic and workforce development in Rhode Island.”

“Rhode Island College’s new building will bring business and technology together in a modern learning environment that reflects where the economy is headed,” said Shannon Gilkey, Commissioner of Postsecondary Education. “By expanding opportunities in fields like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and computer science, RIC is helping students build skills for meaningful careers and strengthening Rhode Island’s talent pipeline.”

“Inspired by cybersecurity and emerging technology, the building’s design creates layered spaces that are open and transparent on the outside and protected on the inside,” said Dan Arons, AIA, LEED AP, Principal at Perkins Eastman, the architecture firm designing the new building. “These spaces balance community connection and collaboration with the advanced technology involved in studying computer science, financial technology and cyber studies. The building positions RIC and the institute well for the long run in a field that will only grow in importance.”