Rock Valley College reveals plans for downtown Rockford adult learning campus

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Rock Valley College is moving forward in its plan to open a campus for adult learners in downtown Rockford.

The college shared renderings of the new RVC Downtown West campus on its , and announced a "community engagement session," to take place on Tuesday, October 29th at 5:30 p.m. at the Rockford Police Department Precinct 1, at 1045 W. State Street.

RVC leadership says the public will be able to talk to project leaders, view the building designs, and explore the center's programs.

The new downtown campus is slated to open in 2026 on the site of several buildings at Chestnut Street, Winnebago Street, and Rockton Avenue that were purchased from the City of Rockford.

"We are excited to expand our offerings to better serve the western portion of our college district. The programs we are exploring for inclusion at this location include automotive, e-vehicles, collision repair, early childhood education, truck driver training, human services, criminal justice, adult education, refugee and immigration services. In addition, the college is planning for a community engagement space to better engage adult learners," the college said.

Demolition is planned for this year, to be completed in early 2025. A groundbreaking ceremony is expected to be held in March 2025, with construction to be finished in August 2026.

Currently, RVC's downtown offerings occupy space in the Iconic Energy building, formerly the Rockford Register Star building, at 99 E. State Street.

The college has considered a downtown campus before.

It initially planned to create an Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in the former Register Star building but then considered the former Barber-Colman complex, south of downtown Rockford, before choosing to build its 77,000-square-foot facility in Belvidere.

The ATC at 1400 Big Thunder Blvd in 2022.