Voorhees Computing Center (VCC)

Introduction

The Voorhees Computing Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is named after donor Alan M. Voorhees, a graduate of RPI in the Class of 1947 [1]. He donated $3.4 million to his alma mater in 1979 to transform an on-campus chapel into a modernized computing center. The VCC is still operational today, and has transformed over the years to remain modern to technologies of the time.

History

The gothic-inspired building was first erected for the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1933 as a chapel [1]. They used it until 1958, when Rensselaer acquired the building and started renovations to adjoin a functioning library to the chapel. These renovations were completed in 1960, and the library operated in that location for another sixteen years. In 1976, the library was relocated to the Folsom Library, yet the chapel remained. Just three years later in 1979, the chapel was transformed into the Voorhees Computing Center (VCC), which still functions today as "the most unique computing center in the world" (former RPI President George Low). In 1980, the building received the Troy Chamber of Commerce Beautification Award to recognize the architectural design of Wallace, Floyd, Ellenzweig, Moore, Inc. in its recent transformation from chapel to technological hub [2].

Current Status

The Voorhees Computing Center is still active today. It serves as a help center for students having trouble with their devices run by the Information Services and Technology division of the CIO on RPI's campus [4]. It is also a hub for student-accessible printers and is often used as a place to study.

References

[1] “Chapel / Voorhees Computing Center.” Institute Archives and Special Collections. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Accessed February 3, 2023. https://archives.rpi.edu/institute-history/building-histories/chapel-voorhees-computing-center.

[2] “RPI to Open Its Campus to Community Sunday.” The Times Record. October 25, 1980. https://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FLogin_18%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%25201980%2520b%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%25201980%2520b%2520-%25207560.pdf%23xml%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D7bb08727%26stgd%3Dyes%26DocId%3D6655943%26request%3Dvoorhees%26index%3DZ%253a%255cDISK%2520E%26searchFlags%3D16914688%26autoStopLimit%3D50%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FLogin_18%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%25201980%2520b%2FTroy%2520NY%2520Times%2520Record%25201980%2520b%2520-%25207560.pdf&xml=https%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D7bb08727%26stgd%3Dyes%26DocId%3D6655943%26request%3Dvoorhees%26index%3DZ%253a%255cDISK%2520E%26searchFlags%3D16914688%26autoStopLimit%3D50%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false.

[4] “Help Desk.” Information Services and Technology. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Accessed February 3, 2023. https://dotcio.rpi.edu/services/support-and-training/help-desk.