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Please use the links below to learn more about the Innovation Center's featured spaces.
R&D CAMEE Workforce Services@SVHEC TopSolid America/CAD Lab
Student Studio Space General Purpose Classroom Tiered Classroom
The Business of Art & Design
The Innovation Center houses the SVHEC's signature Business of Art & Design program. With academic tracks in Digital Art & Design and Product Design & Development (offered in partnership with Danville Community College), the Business of Art & Design is an innovative approach to higher education. 
The Business of Art & Design creates a unique 2+2+2 educational pathway beginning with 11th and 12th grade high school dual enrollment courses leading to a 2-year community college applied associate’s degree (AAS), with articulation to a bachelor’s degree. While Digital Art & Design and Product Design & Development use different mediums for instruction, each program provides students with fundamental skills for the 21st century workforce.
Business of Art & Design students have received national recognition for their creative works. In 2009 and again in 2011 Business of Art & Design students placed first in their category at the AWFS Fresh Wood Student Competition, one of the largest woodworking competitions in the nation.
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R&D Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Energy Efficiency (R&D CAMEE)  The R&D Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Energy Efficiency (R&D CAMEE) works to provide a complete, unparalleled, competitively priced package of services for product and process development needs. We work with business and industry to provide firms with the resources needed to solve product design dilemmas, assist in the creation of new products and components, and lower manufacturing costs through technological efficiencies. While other R&D firms provide research alone, R&D CAMEE provides the competitive and technological edge companies need to rise above their competition.
The R&D Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Energy Efficiency houses a state-of-the art Machining Center equipped with today’s most advanced and progressive manufacturing technology that produce products in both the 3-axis and 5-axis realm. Because we know advanced manufacturing techniques are the key to competing globally, we use a “Smart Factory” approach to demonstrate how emerging trends in industry and advanced technology can be adopted and mastered.
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Workforce Services @SVHEC
 Workforce Services @ the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center is a comprehensive program encompassing secondary and post-secondary training. The Center of Nursing Excellence and TopSolid America are two SVHEC initiatives housed within the Workforce Services division. The Center of Nursing Excellence is a healthcare learning resource center offering classroom and simulated clinical support services for healthcare education and practice. TopSolid America offers comprehensive training and support in the use of the TopSolid CAD/CAM software package.
In addition to these initiatives, specific business and industry training is available on an as needed basis. Workforce Services@SVHEC was proud to serve the Commonwealth of Virginia and local industry Presto Products Company in securing workforce training for 300+ Presto employees (read related article)
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TopSolid America/Computer-Aided Design Lab
Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) is a central feature of Product Design & Development and the R&D Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Energy Efficiency. To that end, the TopSolid America/CAD Lab is a dedicated space for instruction and training.
TopSolid America offers comprehensive training and support in the use of the TopSolid software package. TopSolid is an integrated design, manufacturing and management software specialized for wood processing. It is a uniquely integrated CAD/CAM wood solution that meets the needs of designers, manufacturers and subcontractors in the wood working sector.
TopSolid America is a division of Workforce Services@SVHEC, and is the only educational training institute for TopSolid in the United States. While TopSolid is the CAD program of choice for Product Design & Development and R&D CAMEE, workforce training is available on other CAD software packages.
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Student Studio Space  The student studio space is a large open area with no walls or other barriers to collaboration. The concept is based on noted schools of art and design, and professional creative agencies where conspicuous collaboration is encouraged. Students in the Business of Art & Design make connections and seek ways to work with other students, whether regardless of individual academic tracks (Digital Art & Design or Product Design & Development).
Adult students in the Business of Art & Design program are assigned a desk in the upstairs, open studio space and this is their home for the duration of their time in the program. The desks were designed and built by students in the Product Design & Development program. The desks may be used as stand-alone units, or may be placed together in a pinwheel shape (as pictured) to foster collaboration and teamwork. Students have ownership of their workspace, and retain said ownership until they leave the program. Ultimately, the graduating senior class will design and build the desks for the incoming freshman class.
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The general purpose classroom seats up to 25 students. The desks and chairs may be configured in a number of arrangements to accommodate a range of educational experiences.
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 The tiered classroom/small conference center provides a comfortable, technologically advanced meeting space for small and medium sized groups (80 seat capacity). With a full suite of audio-visual equipment, Wi-Fi, and sound-proofing, the tiered classroom/conference center provides an ideal learning or meeting space. This space, designed with the end-user in mind, has its own entrance, restrooms, coat closet, and kitchenette, providing privacy and comfort to user groups.
Information on renting the Conference Center. Return to the Top of the Page
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