Opened in 1997 in a renovated shopping mall, Housatonic Community College experienced phenomenal growth, quickly surpassing the capacity of its new home. A potential acquisition of a vacated Sears Building offered Housatonic a prime opportunity to expand.

Initially engaged in 2001, Rickes Associates (RA) identified and evaluated current resources, reviewed enrollment projections, conducted a classroom use and technology assessment, and determined future space requirements. In addition, RA developed a detailed space inventory that listed all campus areas on a space-by-space basis, with associated square footage and current use of each space.

The campus in 2001 encompassed 128,000 assignable square feet and enrolled some 1,900 FTE students. RA defined a program for an additional 100,000 assignable square feet, based on findings and projected growth to 2,500 FTE students, as well as a growing population of continuing education and non-credit students from.

In 2005, Housatonic Community College invited RA to continue work on the project in the capacity of program reviewer as design work proceeded. (2001, updated in 2005)