WHO: University of Rhode Island students, faculty and staff.

WHAT: Grand opening ceremony for the URI Gender and Sexuality Center. Speakers include: URI President David M. Dooley, Associate Vice President for the Office of Community, Equity and Diversity Naomi Thompson, Center Director Annie Russell, and recent graduate Jessica Brand.

After the speaking program, guided tours will be provided until 4 p.m.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Gender and Sexuality Center, 19 Upper College Road, Kingston Campus. Event parking is available in Lot 1 off of Briar Lane.

CONTACT: For information about covering this event, contact Jhodi Redlich in the URI Department of Marketing & Communications at 401-874-4500 or jredlich@uri.edu.

Background: When URI broke ground last spring on the $2.1 million, 4,300-square-foot building, it became the first institution of higher education in the country to design and build a free standing LGBTQ Center. The building was designed by LLB Architects of Pawtucket to be consistent with the main campus roadway’s residential style, and was constructed by Nadeau Corp. of South Attleboro, Mass. The project was completed on time and on budget. Find more details in the news release.