Northern Essex Community College in northeastern Massachusetts occupies 479,000 assignable square feet of space in eight buildings. Enrollment in 2008 stood at approximately 7,000 students.

Rickes Associates (RA) collected information on enrollment projections, staffing patterns, and course offerings; held individual and group meetings with projected users; and developed a program for a facility of approximately 39,000 gross square feet.

The new facility will accommodate academic programs in health sciences, nursing, and natural sciences. It is slated to contain a variety of teaching and learning spaces and will address the need for smart classrooms, contemporary labs, and hands-on practice spaces.