On April 16, Nadeau Corp. Construction Development and Engineering broke ground on a center for the University of Rhode Island's (URI) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ)community. The 4,000 s/f center located at 19 Upper College Rd. will cost about $2 million, and is expected to open in spring 2015.
Designed by LLB Architects of Pawtucket, the building will replace the current LGBTQ center currently located in Adams Hall at URI. The facility is located at the present site of the Ruggles House which will be demolished in order to make way for the first free standing center of its kind in the entire nation. The single-story, stone and clapboard building will have a veranda running along the front, a multipurpose room, a group counseling room and a student lounge.
State officials were on hand to celebrate the groundbreaking, including governor Lincoln Chafee, and state senator Frank Ferri. Nadeau Corp. looks forward to making this project a tremendous success and has great support from LLB Architects, URI's facilities staff, and Annie Russell the center's director who continues to play a vital role in all aspects of this project.