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Bond Approved, Whipple Hall to Become Cyber Institute & Training Hub

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Whipple Hall Renovation

This building will be a modern, state-of-the-art research, education and training facility for cybersecurity and emerging technologies.

By Gita Brown

Voters have approved the $73 million renovation of Rhode Island College’s Whipple Hall into the dedicated home of RIC’s Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies.

Launched in the Fall of 2023 by RIC alumnus and former Congressman James Langevin, the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies was established to meet the growing need for cybersecurity research, education and training.

This investment not only secures a state-of-the-art facility for RIC, it also allows the college to be a resource for the state, providing security monitoring services and a cyber range command center that the government and the private sector can use for training, workforce development and cyber defense.

Douglas Alexander, director of the institute, says construction on Whipple Hall will begin in mid-2026 and be completed by mid-2028. “We are thrilled to begin designing and building this new facility,” he says. “Its innovative spaces and programs will offer exceptional opportunities for RIC students and professionals in cybersecurity and emerging technologies in our state.”

The new building will have state-of-the-art AI and material science labs, a dedicated cyber range facility, a security operations center, classrooms equipped with the latest technology, faculty offices and collaborative workspaces. Additionally, upgrades will be made to the IT infrastructure and advanced security systems to protect sensitive data.

Meanwhile, as the institute’s official home in Whipple is built, plans are in development to create a cyber range classroom in Alger Hall. A cyber range is a specialized simulation space for cyberattacks, allowing participants to practice and refine their cyber defense skills.

Cyber range classroom
Architectural rendering of cyber range classroom in Alger Hall. There are four workstations with six computers per station to accommodate 24 users. The centerpiece of the room (left of photo) is a 24-feet wide video screen with 12 rectangular panels. 

Ultimately, with these new training sites the institute will be able to provide the world-class education needed to tackle the cybersecurity challenges of the 21st century.

“Rhode Island has all the talent and tools to become a leader in the high-tech economy,” says RIC President Jack Warner. “RIC’s state-of-the-art facility will nurture that talent and train students to use those tools, and this investment will deliver a real return for the state by developing our next generation of cyber defenders and AI innovators. We are grateful to our state leaders for establishing a regional center of excellence here at RIC and to the people of Rhode Island who, through this bond, supported the growth of a tech hub in our state.”

For more information on RIC’s Cybersecurity Institute, visit its website.