Virginia Tech Invents the Future
By Jordan Lozama|ljord96@vt.edu|703-606-0126
Virginia Tech is planning the future with developing a master plan that is bringing changes to the
National Capital, Roanoke area, and the Virginia campus locations. Virginia Tech is also seeking
input from Undergraduate and graduate student, as well as faculty. Associates from Sasaki are
collaborating with Virginia Tech stakeholders to assist with the new developments on the
Blacksburg,Va campus.
Before beginning the planning process of expanding, renovating, and removing buildings around
campus, members of Sasaki and engineers at Virginia Tech created visuals complementing their
plans. Some leading members in these efforts are Virginia Techs master plan are Associate Vice
President and Chief Facilities Officer, Christopher H. Kiwus, Transportation Planning Engineer,
Micheal Dunn, Principal Planner of Sasaki Greg Havens, Assistant Vice president of University
Planning, Jason Soileau, Principal of Urban Design, Mary Anne Ocampo, and Associate Teresa
ONeil. These individuals met with stakeholder groups and had in depth discussion carrying on
through the entire development in late spring and early fall. The next round will be a draft.
The idea of a master plan
is to be prepared for future
scenarios, thinking
strategically, a lot of
planning in thinking in
enrolling on campus, said
Soileau. [Direct quote]
The planning process
ultimately begins with
different stages. The first
stage being people and
mission, second is
inventory and analysis,
third is concept plan
alternative, fourth is plan
revision and public
ONeil shows students the visual for the master plan. She described the loop that
comment, and the last step will be accessible for bicyclist and pedestrians will be circling around campus:
being final master plan. allow for campus to be more connected. At one of the master plan meetings in the
Squires Student Life Center.
The associates and
stakeholders of this plan are now in the concept plan and alternative stage which entails, seeking
feedback from the public at the master plan meetings as they discuss the different concepts in the
plan.
The projected changes are developing the arts transition to the downtown area. Alumni Mall
being the new home of the College of Agriculture, and additional space for the College of
Liberal Arts and Human
Sciences (expanding
near the Moss Art
Center).
The new campus will be
divided into sections.
With music and the arts, The presentations slide displays the loop that connect the core of campus with
dining halls along the perimeter (shaded in dark pink). The slide provides a visual
integrated design for
of the CID Commons area replacing the bookstore and Cowgill Hall being the
architecture and center of student life.
engineering where the
(Graduate life Center)
GLC is located. Student
life spaces will be on the
north side of campus,
and dining halls will
expand. Housing will be
added behind the GLC.
The removal of Squires Student Life Center and the bookstore is projected to happen in years to
come.
The new location for student life will be Cowgill Hall which is now the home of the College of
Engineering. Reasons for the relocation are spaces are limited in Cowgill Hall, it needs more
expansion, said Havens. [Partial quote] The College of Engineering plans to be placed on 290
College Ave, where Squires Student Life Center is located. The music and the arts integrated
design building will have parking added right beside it.
Owens is planning to
have renovations in the
next few years, War
memorial gym is
projected to be no longer
existent, an outdoor
recreational courts and
pool are projected to be
located near Surge. From
1977 to 2014 increased
four and a half million in
feet, long term its
projected will increase The north end of campus has almost seven thousand student that take of its space at
up to six million by its peak time at noon. Because of this statistic north campus will have more social
space under the Burruss Halls tunnel and a building for student life which seems to
2027. Havens confirmed be Cowgill Hall.
while expanding camps
they want to protect its land grant legacy, protect open space, protect working landscape and
understanding age culture history. [Indirect quote]
