Lucy F. Simms Center for Continuing Education, Harrisonburg, Virginia *
Randy Seitz, AIA; Project Manager -- The Troyer Group

This property – a key landmark for the African American Community in
Harrisonburg and the region – was turned over to the City when the local
school board chose not to develop it as an elementary school. The
Harrisonburg Redevelopment Housing Authority, acting as the agent for the
city, hired the The Troyer Group to build consensus within the community for
adaptation and reuse of the building. A program for continuing education that
including the Boys and Girls Club, the Op Shop, Parks and Recreation and other
community groups emerged along with a commitment to have the building placed
on the National Register of Historic Places. The Troyer Group team, with
local engineering consultants and an historic preservationist, developed the
contract documents required for bidding of a publicly-funded project meeting
the criteria of the Secretary of the Interior’s Guidelines for Renovation of
Historic Structures. Original bids came in under budget with total project
cost ending up at $5,500,000. Project under construction and slated for
completion March of 2005.

* Denotes work designed and managed by Randy Seitz while employed by another
architect