With a mission to provide educational opportunities to the diverse community it serves, Housatonic Community College occupies the site of a former shopping mall in downtown Bridgeport, CT, and provides academic access to recent immigrants, first generation college bound students and students continuing or returning to the higher ed arena. A significant addition/renovation to its aging main building, Lafayette Hall, provided the ability to address critical program needs, and greatly enhance the college’s “front door” to the city.