Add as a preferred source on Google

Virginia Tech Breaks Ground on New Campus

  • By Matt Jones
  • 09/15/21

With a celebratory groundbreaking ceremony, construction has officially begun on the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Va. University, government and business leaders gathered on Tuesday, Sept. 14, to mark the first steps of the first academic building of the new campus. The new facility is scheduled to open its doors to students, faculty and staff in fall 2024.

“It’s a day many years in the making, made possible by a broad group of partners who were willing to support a bold vision to advance research, graduate education and community engagement in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands to a crowd of more than 200.

According to university news sources, the Innovation Campus will offer graduate-level programs in computer engineering and computer science, as well as project-based initiatives that will partner students with local industry leaders. Boeing announced in May of this year that it was investing $50 million in the new campus as its first foundational partner. The funds will help create scholarships and recruit faculty and researchers.

“Our vision for the Innovation Campus is to be both a place and a culture that unlocks the power of diverse people and ideas to solve the world’s most pressing problems through technology,” said Lance Collins, vice president and executive director of the Innovation Campus. “Diversity isn’t just a core value to me. It is a measure of excellence that will ensure the Innovation Campus delivers on its full potential.”

The new academic building will stand 11 stories and measure in at 300,000 square feet, and according to university news, its design draws on principles of sustainability, health and wellness, green and social spaces, accessibility, connectivity, flexibility and integrated technology. The campus itself will cover 3.5 acres and is being developed in North Potomac Yard, near a future Potomac Yard Metrorail Station.

The long-term plan for the Innovation Campus includes the construction of two other buildings, each about 150,000 square feet, as campus grows. The university partnered with Sasaki to create a master plan for the campus and with SmithGroup to design the new academic building. Construction is being handled by JBG Smith.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • University of Southern Mississippi Starts Construction on Oyster Hatchery

    The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) recently announced that construction has begun on a new oyster hatchery at its Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC) Cedar Point campus in Ocean Springs, Miss., according to a news release.

  • Delta State University Completes Renovations to School of Nursing Facilities

    Delta State University recently completed a major expansion and renovation project for the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing facilities on its campus in Cleveland, Miss., according to a news release. The project includes about 14,000 square feet of new construction and more than 21,000 square feet of renovation work to the existing space.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

  • Elevating Campus Maintenance: How Power Wash Drones are Transforming Educational Facilities

    As today’s campuses grow larger and more architecturally complex, keeping exteriors clean, safe, and inviting has never been tougher. Facilities leaders are under constant pressure to stretch budgets, meet safety standards, and support sustainability goals—all while tackling the stubborn challenge of exterior cleaning.

Digital Edition