Claude Moore Education Complex Serves Community Needs

Just over the new MLK bridge from the Hancock Building sits the Claude Moore Education Complex which officially had its ribbon cut last week. This is a great example of a vital community organization seeing a need for growth, partnering with an excellent school and finding a way and an appropriate place to make it happen. This time the City of Roanoke helped some but it was really multiple partners and the state that got it done.

The Higher Education Center has been an enormous success and is now operating at a full level with over 15 partnerships. In an effort to sustain growth the Higher Ed Center partnered with Virginia Western Community College to develop a location for a culinary arts school.

They then partnered with the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, the Roanoke Neighborhood Development Corporation and various financial organizations to renovate several old, abandoned buildings.  The aim was to bring back life to Henry Street in the Gainsboro neighborhood, while serving educational needs. These historic buildings sit right across from the newly renovated Dumas Hotel which houses many diverse cultural organizations.

In addition to the culinary school, the Claude Moore Education Complex houses the renovated Strand Theatre. Anyone in attendance for the dedication last week, would have been greatly impressed by the historic perspective offered by many speakers demonstrating the importance of this project to our city and especially to the historic Gainsboro community. As well as completing a historic renovation to expand education opportunities to our region, they renovated the building in a sustainable and environmentally sound manner. There is a green roof and this building will soon be LEED certified.

Once again in our city, community organizations have found a need and have found a way to meet that need while maintaining historic relevance. Again- this story should make all Roanokers proud and hopefully will prompt many to get in their cars or on their bikes and go visit the complex or even just watch the chefs at work through the windows while taking a stroll on Henry Street and the MLK bridge.