Main Campus
Richland moved into its permanent home during the fall of 1988. This 154,071-square-foot facility houses 54 classrooms and 39 laboratories, located on a site of 155 acres.
A 12,000–square-foot Horticulture/Agriculture/Maintenance Facility was completed during the summer of 1990. Through the generous donation of Paul Weidenbacher, an 800-square-foot greenhouse was added to the Agriculture building during the spring of 1991. Building use will transition in fall 2022 when a new Agriculture building opens for classes.
The Shilling Community Education Center, completed in January 1993, was made possible by a $750,000 bequest from the Shilling Trust administered by the Main Street Bank and Trust. The Shilling Center features a 325-seat auditorium, banquet room with seating for 300, conference rooms, and several classrooms available for use by students, faculty, staff, and the community. The 44,607-square-foot facility is available for public and business use for meetings, programs, performances, and other events.
The Kitty Lindsay Learning Resources Center (Library), located next to the Mueller Student Center, provides a variety of resource materials, quiet and group study spaces, Wi-Fi access, and computers and a professional staff trained to help students locate and use materials.
The Mueller Student Center (MSC) is the hub for student activities at Richland Community College including speakers, entertainers, information tables, fairs, students elections, fundraising events, games, and shows. The MSC is located in the center core of the Campus main building just inside the main entrance.
The Richland Bookstore, operated by Follett Higher Education Group, is located next to the Mueller Student Center. It carries textbooks and materials for all Richland courses and a variety of school supplies and Richland gear. VISA, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are accepted by the Bookstore. The Bookstore can be contacted at 217.875.7211, Ext. 6231, http:/www.bkstr.com/richlandccstore/home.
The Café offers a variety of sandwiches, wraps, fried foods, drinks, and daily specials. It is located next to the Mueller Student Center and is run by the Culinary Arts Institute. Hours of operation are posted, with no service on Saturday. The Coffee House, opened in September 2011, is a student operated laboratory for the Culinary Arts Institute. The Coffee House offers hot, cold, and frozen beverages as well as pastries produced by the students. The Café also offers on-campus catering for groups. Contact the Café, 217.875.7211, Ext. 6275, for more information.
Vending machines are located in the Café, in the Scherer Industrial Technology Center, in the Workforce Development Institute, and in the Shilling Center just south of the lobby.
Bistro Five Thirty Seven is a full-service restaurant located on the Richland Community College campus. Fully operated by the Richland Culinary Arts Institute, the restaurant is a working laboratory for students seeking national certification by the American Culinary Federation. The menu selections at Bistro Five Thirty Seven will change regularly, incorporating unique cuisine and comprehensive cooking techniques. This entrepreneurial student experience is the capstone course of the Culinary Arts Institute and ensures that graduates have the competencies and skills necessary to be successful in the culinary field. Hours of operation vary and may be found at richland.edu/bistro. Reservations are preferred and can be placed by calling 217.875.7211, Ext. 6537 or through Table Agent.
The Scherer Industrial Technology Center, adding 23,550 square feet to the east wing and dedicated in August 2002, is the location of many technology programs including HVAC and Engineering Technology. State-of-the-art equipment allows integrated training opportunities for students in these programs.
The Schrodt Health Education Center offers training opportunities for health professions through realistic replications of hospital rooms and surgical rooms. General classrooms, laboratories, and computer labs are also available in this 25,570-square-foot wing, dedicated in January 2003.
The Dwayne O. Andreas Agribusiness Education Center, a 15,000-square-foot addition to the east wing, was dedicated in fall 2007 and open for classes in January 2008. This space includes general classrooms, a biology laboratory, and a drive-in technology laboratory space.
The Student Success Center, located north of the Mueller Student Center, was renovated and reopened in January 2018. Student Success Coaching, Financial Aid and Veterans’ Affairs, Registrar, Career Services, and Testing Services are located here. Additionally, a veterans' resource center is available for use by veterans, military students, and dependents of veterans.
Administrative offices are also located in the area north of the Student Success Center, including the office of the President, Richland Foundation, Business Services, Administrative Information Systems, and the Board Room. This addition opened in January 2018.
The Carroll Center for Innovative Learning opened in January 2018, the result of a donation from the Del and Evelyn Carroll Foundation and a campaign led by the Richland Foundation. The remodeled south wing of the second floor of the main campus building highlights active learning, collaborative spaces, and quiet study areas.
Renovation in the first floor south wing was completed in August 2021, opening new science laboratories, classrooms, and health professions laboratories. It also includes the Academic Success Center, the Mathematics Enrichment Center, and a dedicated space for nursing mothers.
Renovations in the second floor west wing were completed and opened in January 2022. The area includes upgraded classrooms, student study spaces, and the Teaching and Learning Center.
Located north of the Main Campus, the Center for Sustainability and Innovation (CSI) is a facility designed and constructed to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum designation. The facility is a full demonstration of sustainable building technologies and methodologies that reduce Richland’s carbon footprint. The University of Illinois Extension is located on the first floor. The second floor is home to Richland’s Innovations Lab. The Lab’s unique learning environment supports applications of innovative thinking, entrepreneurial exploration and discovery, and creative problem solving.
The wind turbine is the sole source of electrical power for the Center for Sustainability and Innovation. It is Richland Community College’s innovation signature and is iconic for the College’s campus and new programs. Standing at 125 feet high and resting on a 10-foot round base of concrete poured 16 feet into the earth, the Northwind 100 wind turbine is the first on any Illinois community college campus. The tower was installed in 3 sections each weighing 13,000 pounds. Each of the three blades weighs 850 pounds. The wind turbine will generate approximately 200,000 kwh per year.
The National Sequestration Education Center (NSEC), funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy and opened in fall 2012, is a training and demonstration site for a joint project of the U.S. Department of Energy, the Illinois Geological Survey, Archer Daniels Midland Co., and Richland Community College. Credit and non-credit classes are also scheduled in NSEC, located north of the Center for Sustainability and Innovation.
The Workforce Development Institute (WDI), located east of the main campus, opened in Fall 2014. This facility houses technical programs including automotive technology, diesel mechanics, and auto collision repair.
Richland’s Fitness Center, located in the Workforce Development Institute (WDI), includes aerobic conditioning equipment, weight machines, and free weights. Richland District residents may use the Fitness Center by registering for the appropriate Physical Education class or multiple non-credit options. Registered students may use the Fitness Center at no charge.