Smyth Hall, originally named the Natural Science Building, is an academic building on the Ag Quad. The structure was built in two sections. The first section was completed in 1939 for a cost of $127,650. In 1950, two additions were added, costing $485,300. Today, it houses offices and classrooms for several departments, including the Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Science. In 1949, the Natural Science Building was renamed in honor of Ellison Adger Smyth Jr. Smyth was a professor, founding head of the Department of Biology (1891-1925), and first dean of the faculty (1902-1906). He is remembered as an avid writer and photographer, as well as for his work to resurrect the student-produced Gray Jacket. He has been called the "godfather of the first Bugle yearbook ever published" by others; he called himself a "practical ornithologist".1 Smyth owned a large collection of bird skins and insects, which he allowed students to study. Decorating the exterior of Smyth Hall are three avian "gargoyles". They are several of fifteen gargoyles adorning buildings on the Virginia Tech campus. Generally appearing on older structures, most of these are non-functional. The most distinctive gargoyles are the "cowgoyles" seen on some agricultural buildings.

Smyth Hall, Virginia Tech; image by Eric T Gunther - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19240882

"Gargoyle" on Virginia Tech's Smyth Hall, viewed from the Ag Quad; image by Buridan - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=102796

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Smyth Hall, located on the Ag Quad of the Virginia Tech Campus, houses offices and classrooms for several departments, including the Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Science. Originally known as the Natural Science Building, the first section was erected in 1939. In 1950, a second section was added. Named for professor and "practical ornithologist" Ellison Adger Smyth Jr., Smyth Hall is distinguished by three bird gargoyles.

Smyth Hall

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Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (popularly known as Virginia Tech) is home to numerous buildings, educational resources, and monuments that represent the history of this prestigious academic institution. Take a tour of some of the campus highlights. You'll see unique architecture at the School of Architecture + Design, beautiful scenery and a historic landmark at the Duck Pond, and learn all about the Hokies—VT's athletic teams. You can also pay your respects at several monuments commemorating the lives of brave members of the Hokie Nation.

The Moss Arts Center, located on the corner of Main Street and Alumni Mall, seeks to transform lives through exploration and engagement with the arts and creative process. Construction began on the facility in June 2010. The center was named after the artist and donor Patricia Buckley Moss just prior to its opening on October 28, 2013. Prior to the building's construction, the Performing Arts Building was the structure now known as the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences building located near 200 Stanger Street, notable for being the first building ont he Virginia Tech campus constructed of hokie stone. Today, the Moss Arts Center serves as the headquarters for both the Center of the Arts (which manages the public spaces within the building) and the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT). The facility is a 150,000-square-foot structure that houses a 1,260-seat performance hall, visual arts galleries, amphitheater, studios. It also offers a multimedia studio, production control room, newsroom, and associated classroom in support of the Department of Communication. Also located at the Moss Arts Center is the Cube, a four-story state-of-the-art theater and high-tech laboratory. Developed as a response to the U.S. initiative on "big data," this highly-adaptible space is used for multiple forms of creative expression and data exploration by students, faculty, as well as guest artists and researchers.

The Moss Arts Center, which opened in 2013, is a 150,000-square-foot facility located on the crossroads of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University campus and Blacksburg, Virginia. Dedicated to promoting community engagement with the arts, the center serves as the cornerstone of the burgeoning arts district in downtown Blacksburg. It is the headquarters for both the Center of the Arts at Virginia Tech and the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT). The facility houses a performance hall, visual arts galleries, an amphitheater, multiple studios, and a four-story experimental Cube—a state-of-the art theater and high tech laboratory. 

Moss Arts Center & the Cube (Virginia Tech)

Completed in 1888, Lane Hall (originally Barracks No. 1) is one of the oldest structures on the Virginia Tech Campus. For 78 years, the building served as housing for the Corps of Cadets (founded 1872). Barracks No. 1 revolutionized campus amenities with bathrooms that contained hot and cold running water, although the layout was conducive to rat habitation; it is thought that the traditional hazing of rats, in which first-year cadets participate, was created owing to the need for pest control in the building. Lane Hall was named for Civil War Veteran General James H. Lane in the 1950s. Gen. Lane was the first commandant of cadets and a professor of military tactics from 1872 to 1881. He is also remembered for his involvement in a fistfight with the college president. Lane Hall is the centerpiece building of the Upper Quad. The brick-and-mortar structure is decorated with hundreds of signatures left by cadets, some dating back more than a century. Architecturally, it is a three-story, 33,049-square-foot building constructed in the Late Victorian Second Empire Style. The hall is distinguished by its metal shingle faux mansard roof. Barracks No. 1 was one of 5 campus barracks located on the campus, though the others have since been converted or demolished. In addition to the building itself, there are several other sites of interest around the Upper Quad. At the southeast entry point of the quad is The Rock, an area which contains a large flagpole, two cannons from the Civil War, and a stone memorial commemorating individuals who perished in battle. The flat lawn located in the mini-quadrangle beyond The Rock is used as parade grounds for the cadets to muster, and the concrete walks are arranged to resemble the letters "VT." In 1967, the Lane Hall was converted into administrative space, a purpose it continues to serve today. It contains classrooms and offices for departments within the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Despite the change in function, however, it continues to be an iconic symbol of the Virginia Tech Corps. Virginia Tech is one of two universities that still maintain a Corps of Cadets full-time as part of a large university.&nbsp; Today's cadets continue the 120-year-old tradition of standing retreat in front of the hall each evening. Lane Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 during a major overhaul of the Upper Quad; it one of the several buildings on campus bearing that distinction.

Lane Hall, historically known as Barracks No. 1, is one of the oldest buildings on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Located in the Upper Quad, it contains offices for disciplines in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and is the home of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. Completed in 1888, the structure housed cadets until its conversion to academic offices in 1967, ending 78 years of use as barracks. In 2015, Barracks No. 1 was added to the National Register of Historic Places; it is also a designated Virginia Historical Landmark.

Lane Hall (Barracks No. 1)

Beginning in the 1890s, two students at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (as Virginia Tech was then called) began an effort to raise money to build a Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) building on campus. Richmond-based architect W. F. West designed the Romanesque-style building in 1899 and construction was complete in 1900. It was the first building on campus to use the locally-mined limestone known as "hokie stone," which President McBryde referred to as "our native limestone" from university-owned quarries. The style and choice of stone allowed the campus to stand out architecturally from other schools and grant distinctiveness to the campus. Later hokie stone buildings would tend toward the Neo-Gothic architectural style. After the YMCA offices moved out of the building in 1937, it was known as the Military Building until the late 1960s, then the Student Personnel Building. In 1972, as part of the Virginia Tech centennial celebrations, the YMCA deeded any interest it had in the building to the university. Around this time the university also renamed it to the Performing Arts Building, its name and purpose until the opening of the Moss Arts Center in 2013. At this time, ihe 14,314-square-foot building was renamed to the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences building and used for housing administrative units under the college Dean and the Undergraduate Academic Affairs office. In 2010, the university Board of Visitors passed a resolution stating that all new buildings on the Virginia Tech campus must contain at least some Hokie Stone.

Built in 1900, this structure was the first on the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute to be constructed of Hokie Stone, the building material that became the signature aesthetic of what is now the Virginia Tech campus. The design of this building and those that would follow was part of a transition in the architecture of the campus during the presidency of John M. McBryde (1891-1907) from mainly red brick structures to the locally-quarried stone. Originally the building house the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), then the Performing Arts, and since 2013 it has been an administrative building.

College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Building, Virginia Tech

In September 1996, a virtual groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Advanced Communications and Information Technology Center (ACITC). Construction on the three-story, 149,651-square-foot building was completed in 2000 at a cost of $26,948,800. The hall was dedicated the very same year and renamed in honor of Paul Ernest Torgersen, head of industrial engineering (1967–70), dean of engineering (1970–90), president of the Corporate Research Center (1990–94), and 14th president of Virginia Tech (1994–2000). A well-respected figure, Torgersen is known for leading the engineering program to national prominence and for his efforts to rebuild financial resources and technology leadership. He was a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and the American Society of Engineering Education. He received numerous honors, including two Sporn teaching excellence awards, the Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Award, ASEE’s Lamme Medal, and was named Virginia’s Engineering Educator of the Year in 1992. As dean and president, he signed 62,191 diplomas. Torgersen Hall was planned to accommodate the development of a plan to incorporate new research technologies to promote research, teaching, and learning. The facility houses observation rooms that double as control rooms during lecture broadcasts and distant-learning demonstrations, technology- and media-enabled "study courts" that also serve as pre-function areas for a 300-seat auditorium, and an electronic reading room. Additionally, the structure includes 30 miles of fiber-optic and 75 miles of copper cable. Most of the building consists of offices and laboratory space. Connecting the hall to Newman Library is Torgersen Bridge, the most distinctive part of the building. The enclosed arch spanning Alumni Mall is the location of the electronic reading room, which offers seats for visitors in a comfortable atmosphere lent by the cherry wood decor and couches.

Torgersen Hall is Virginia's Tech's Advanced Communications & Information Technology Center. Completed in the summer of 2000, it houses 30 miles of fiber-optic cable and 75 miles of copper cable. The building is connected to Newman Library via an enclosed bridge which spans Alumni Mall. The building/bridge pair are named in honor of Paul E. Torgersen, the 14th president of the university.

Torgersen Hall & Bridge

The War Memorial Monument and Chapel was constructed to honor the students and alumni from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) who gave their lives in defense of the United States. The memorial was designed by Roy F. Larson and construction lasted from 1951 to 1960 at a total cost of nearly half a million dollars. Today the chapel is used for weddings, initiations, military commissioning, concerts, meetings and religious services. The memorial also provides a space for students, faculty, and visitors to enter a silent and tranquil space for reflection throughout the day. Each fall many people gather at the memorial to watch the Ring Reveal firework show put on for current junior class students at Virginia Tech. There are two levels to the war memorial. The upper level of the memorial consists of eight sculptured limestone pylons that stand for brotherhood, honor, leadership, sacrifice, service, loyalty, duty, and promise. The center of the upper level is a cenotaph which lists the seven names of alumni who have received the Medal of Honor serving for the United States. When a new name is added a dedication ceremony is held where the corps of cadets form up on the drill field and the precision rifle drill team performs a rifled salute.  Underneath the upper layer is a 6,324 four square foot chapel that seats two hundred and sixty people. Inside, there is a chancel sculpture by Donald DeLue that symbolizes there is something greater that is responsible for humankind being on Earth. Also responsible for architecture in the chapel were Henry Kreis and Charles Rudy.

Constructed between 1951 and 1960, the Memorial Chapel was is one of the leading landmarks on the Virginia Tech campus and honors students who have given their lives in defense of the United States as members of the Armed Services. The chapel was constructed in the center of campus overlooking the VT Drillfield where generations of students conducted military training. The chapel also stands as a reminder of the campus's history and unique mission, the Corps of Cadets, and Virginia Tech's honor code. The chapel includes eight sculptures on the upper level that represent the concepts of brotherhood, honor, leadership, sacrifice, service, loyalty, and duty.

Virginia Tech War Memorial Chapel

Newman Library is one of three campus libraries on the grounds of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). Established in 1872 with 500 volumes, the library's holdings now consist of over 2 million volumes physically distributed across 3 branches. The branch libraries are located at Art + Architecture, 100 Cowgill Hall; Veterinary Medicine, in the Phase III Building of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine on Duck Pond Drive; and in the Northern Virginia Resource Service Center, 7054 Haycock Road, Falls Church. Together, the Newman and branch libraries offer students and visitors access to educational resources, computers, and space to study. In addition to its other offerings, the Newman Library also houses the university's Special Collections. Highlights of the collection include primary and secondary materials documenting 19th-and 20th-century American history and culture. They represent topics such as the American Civil War, Appalachia, U.S. aerospace exploration, botany and horticulture, railroad history, speculative fiction, university history, and more; there are over 175 collections pertaining to the International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA). The original Carol M. Newman Library building opened in 1955. The library underwent renovations and received a six-story addition in 1981. More recently, in 2009, the lobby was modified to accommodate a café. The facility is named for Carol Montgomery Newman, professor, dean of the Academic Department, and head of the English department (1903 to 1941). Newman is known as the "godfather of extracurricular activities,"1 having served as secretary of the Athletic Council, chair of the college social committee, and chair of the YMCA advisory board. A popular English and rhetoric teacher, Newman was also a member of the library committee and believed that books were an "invaluable element in living."2

The Carol M. Newman Library (also simply called Newman Library) was established in 1872 with 500 books. Today, it administers over 2 million volumes between its three branches. The libraries provide educational resources intended to promote Virginia Tech's objectives in learning; discovery; and engagement, as well as study spaces and access to public computers. Additionally, Newman houses the VT University Library Special Collections, which include a wealth of materials that document American culture during the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Carol M. Newman Library

War Memorial Hall, originally known as the World War I Memorial Gymnasium, began with an alumni campaign in 1919 to memorialize Techmen who had lost their lives during the conflict. The resulting building was completed in 1926 for a cost of $436,710 and dedicated on October 23 of the same year. From 1926 to 1961, varsity basketball games were held in the gym. It also served as an auditorium, dance, and exhibition hall; radio and television offices; and Alumni Association Offices. Today, the structure houses Recreational Sports; the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise; and a substation of the Virginia Tech Police Department. In 1933, the War Memorial Pool, Virginia Tech's swimming and diving facility, was added. The pool complex includes a 25-yard pool with eight lanes and a diving well, complete with underwater windows and a sound system. It has been the site of two Virginia State Championship meets and one Metro Conference Championship. In addition to the pool, War Memorial Gym features other facilities for the use of student, faculty, and staff. These include saunas, weight rooms, racquetball courts, and six basketball courts. In total, War Memorial Gym encompasses a total area of 200,961 square feet of space. Since its construction, the building has undergone significant renovation and expansion. It was closed in 1972 until 1975 while the work completed. In 1992, a flash flood caused damage that necessitated remodeling. In total, War Memorial Gym now encompasses a total area of 200,961 square feet of space (compared to 91,594 square feet in 1926).

War Memorial Hall commemorates the Techman who lost their lives during World War I. Completed in 1919, the structure was once used for varsity basketball and as an auditorium, dance, and exhibition hall. Today, the building houses gym facilities for Recreational Sports; the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise; and a substation of the Virginia Tech Police Department. The gym provides students, faculty, and staff with space to engage in recreational activities including racquetball, basketball, aerobics, and swimming in the War Memorial Pool.

War Memorial Hall

Virginia Tech has a long military tradition. In 1894, University President John McBryde set aside horticultural land to be used by the Corps of Cadets for military drills and athletics. A more formalized Drillfield was developed in 1922 owing to a proposition by landscape architect Warren Manning to transform the space into the symbolic center of the campus. Manning's plan was realized in 1934 when the land was leveled and encircled by present-day Drillfield Drive. The expansive 22-acre lawn, set in a shallow bowl, serves as an anchor of campus life at Virginia Tech. It is the setting for a wide range of activities, including student and community gatherings, as well as military drills. Six paved paths criss-cross the field. Points of interest along the field include the War Memorial Chapel at the eastern end and an arrangement of over 140 ornamental and canopy trees planted around the perimeter, honoring the school’s graduating classes and former students and faculty. The April 16 Memorial, which pays tribute to the victims of the 2007 shooting, is situated in front of Burress Hall. The northwestern side of the Drillfield is the location of the majority of Virginia Tech's academic and administrative structures, including Burruss and McBryde halls. The southeastern side is the location of the majority of the residential buildings and the War Memorial Gym. Newman Library is situated on the eastern side of campus and connects to Torgerson Bridge. The bridge spans Alumni Mall, the main road into the campus. North of the Drillfield and northwest of Alumni Mall is the Upper Quad, also known as "military campus" and home of the Corps of Cadets' barracks. Stroubles Creek runs beneath the field on the south side. A three-sided conduit for the waterway was installed in 1934. In 1971, the first two asphalt walks were constructed. Three dirt paths were paved in 2014 as part of an effort to improve the campus' landscaping and pathways. Though there is an urban legend that the Drillfield is sinking three inches per year, the claim has no basis in fact.

The Drillfield on the campus of Virginia Tech is a large oval field encircled by a one-way street known as Drillfield Drive. It is the central open space on the campus, with origins stemming from the military history of the university. Since 1926, the site has been used by the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets to conduct military drills. North of the Drillfield and northwest of the Alumni Mall lies the Upper Quad, the site of the Corps of Cadet's barracks. On the northwestern side are the majority of the university's academic and administrative buildings; on the southeastern side are many of the residential buildings; Newman library is on the eastern side.

Drillfield (Virginia Tech)

At 7:15 AM, April 16, 2007, two people were shot and killed in West Amber Johnston Hall dormitory. This was the beginning of a rampage that ended in the deaths of 33 students and professors of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. The shooter was 23-year-old Virginia Tech senior and English major, Seung-Hui Cho. Cho was born in South Korea, but became a permanent U.S. resident in 1992. He had a history of mental health problems including depression and an anxiety disorder. During his years at Virginia Tech, he was investigated for stalking and harassing two female students, and some of his professors reported disturbing writing in assignments. In 2005, he was ordered by a state judge to seek outpatient treatment for such problems.  Two hours after the first shooting, Cho mailed a package of writings, photographs, and video recordings explaining his actions to NBC News. Some of these communications were released to the public.  At 9:45 AM, Cho entered Norris Hall, the engineering science and mechanics building, and took the lives of 32 people, as well as himself.  Thirty-two small stones served as a temporary memorial to those killed by Cho, placed by a student group right after the massacre. The original stones numbered 33; however, the stone meant for Cho disappeared, and was not added to the permanent monument. The dirt path worn down in front of the stones was replaced three months later with a stone walking path, and the stones were replaced with a semicircle of new, 300-pound stones engraved with each victim's name. The stones are Hokie Stone, or dolomite, named for the university and quarried by it. Planted at the memorial are holly bushes. The memorial also features a larger, center stone to honor all those killed and injured in the shooting rampage. It is engraved with the message, "We are Virginia Tech. We will prevail."

This memorial stands in remembrance of the 32 Virginia Tech students and professors who were killed by in the deadliest shooting incident by a single gunman on an American college campus. On April 16, 2007, Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at Virginia Tech, shot and killed 32 people and wounded over a dozen more. Later that year, the university dedicated the April 16 Memorial. The memorial, which includes 32 large "Hokie Stones" engraved with the names of victims, a walking path, and holly bushes, honors those who lost their lives. The memorial symbolizes the enduring bond and determination of the "Hokie Nation" to remember those lost in the tragedy. 

Virginia Tech April 16 Memorial: We Remember

Burruss Hall, located near Virginia Tech's Drillfield, was originally called the Teaching and Administration Building. The original 77,080-square-foot structure was completed in June 1936 for a cost of $428,404. The cornerstone was laid at the 1935 commencement ceremony. In 1968, it received a west wing and rear addition; the east wing was built in 1970. An electronic carillon, costing $28,000 was installed in 1958 and dedicated during that year's homecoming ceremony. Today, the structure encompasses 158,221-square-feet and serves as the main administration building on campus. In addition to administrative offices, the first two floors of Burress were renovated in 2007 to house interior design and landscape architecture offices, studios, and classrooms for the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. Burress Hall also contains a 3,003-seat auditorium where important events such as commencement, presidential speeches, concerts, and art shows are held. The first commencement ceremony in Burress took place in June 1936. Burruss takes its name from the eighth president of the university, Julian Ashby Burruss (served 1919 to 1945), in honor of his 25th year in office. In 1920, President Burruss changed the university's policy to allow women to enroll as full-time students and reduced the four-year military requirement for male students to two years. These changes set the stage for a larger civilian student body. Burress also organized a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, tested off-campus living, brought athletics under the purvue of college authorities, and established the Engineering Experiment Station and Engineering Extension Division.

Burruss Hall is the main administration building on campus. It consists of the original building, completed in 1936; a west wing and rear addition, built in 1968; and an east wing, added in 1970. It also contains a 3,003-seat auditorium where events such as commencement, presidential speeches, concerts, and art shows are held. Additionally, Burress houses facilities for the College of Architecture and Urban Studies. Originally known as the Teaching and Administration Building, this hall was renamed in honor of Julian Ashby Burress, the eighth president of the University.

Burruss Hall

Burchard Plaza is a unique pedestrian space located on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The plaza, situated between Burruss Hall and Cowgill Hall, is actually the roof of Burchard Hall, home to the School of Architecture + Design's industrial design program. The plaza is distinguished by four glass pyramidal structures. The pyramids are skylights which allow natural light into the student workspaces below. A staircase leads from a kiosk in the plaza to the subterranean Burchard Hall. Burchard Hall is named for Charles H. Burchard, founding dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS). The structure was constructed underground, adjacent to Cowgill Plaza, in 1988 to preserve the popular pedestrian thoroughfare. It serves as additional studio space for the architecture and industrial design programs, faculty office space, and workshops. The School of Architecture + Design is part of Virginia Tech's CAUS, which offers a highly-ranked and competitive undergraduate and graduate degree program. The facilities at Burchard include wood, metal, and plastics shops, photographic darkrooms for film processing and print-making, ceramics, graphics, and textile workshops, and computer/digital media laboratories.

Burchard Plaza is located on the campus of Virginia Tech, in the small quadrangle between Burruss Hall and Cowgill Hall. This unique plaza is actually the roof of Burchard Hall, home of the School of Architecture + Design. It is distinguished by four glass pyramids—skylights that serve to illuminate the studio space below. Burchard Hall, which was constructed underground, houses the studios used by the industrial design program, faculty office space, and workshops for ceramics, plaster, and computer/digital media. A stairway leads from a kiosk in the plaza to the subterranean facilities. 

Burchard Plaza & School of Architecture + Design

The Museum of Geosciences at Virginia Tech houses a 2,500-square-foot exhibit room. The exhibits house STEM stations, such as the Omniglobe—a spherical projection station that displays global earth systems data. There is also an EmRiver Stream Simulation Model; a real-time earthquake display, a large collection of minerals, gems, rocks, and fossils; and information about Virginia and local geology. The museum serves as a point of contact for access to the Department of Geosciences repositories and collections. Many of the specimens on display are from the Virginia area. Also included in the collection are specimens from famous mining localities worldwide. Items of interest include the "Hokie" Topaz and an Allosaurus dinosaur skeleton cast. To prevent overcrowding, groups and classes should schedule visits two weeks in advance. Visit the website to see current events, hours, and to download scavenger hunts. Most of the programs are free and open to the public. Parking passes are needed during weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, available for free at the VT Visitor Center. Study tables and wireless connectivity are available at the facility.

The Museum of Geosciences is located on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. It is maintained by Virginia Tech's Department of Geosciences and houses a collection of more than 13,000 minerals (including many specimens from Virginia) used for research, education, and display. Also on exhibit are the OmniGlobe, fossils, and a full-scale model of an Allosaurus dinosaur skeleton. Groups and classes interested in visiting the Museum of Geosciences should schedule their trip in advance using the contact number below.

Museum of Geosciences (Virginia Tech)

Solitude was originally constructed as a frontier-style log cabin ca. 1801 by James Patton Preston, who would go on to become Governor of Virginia. It is the oldest structure still standing on the campus of Virginia Tech. In addition to Governor Patton, Solitude has been the home of two other Virginia governors: John Floyd and John Buchanan Floyd. In 1859, Robert Taylor Preston, a Colonel in the Confederate army, remodelled the cabin into a Greek Revival domicile. After the Civil War, he sold Solitude, several farm buildings, and the surrounding property—about 250 acres—to the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (now Virginia Tech) Board of Visitors. Since its purchase by Virginia Tech, the house has served a variety of purposes. It was used as a college infirmary from 1882 to 1886. Subsequently, it became a residential area for various members of the faculty. It also briefly functioned as a clubhouse for returning WWII veterans; during this time dances were regularly held in the front two parlors. In the 1960s and 70s, Solitude housed the Hokie Club. Then, after 1974, several academic programs used the structure. Solitude has been a human nutrition and food laboratory, interior design studio, offices, and more. The historic home was added as a Virginia Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 and 1989, respectively. Architecturally, Solitude is a two-story, L-shaped, 5-bay log and frame dwelling with a hipped roof. In addition to the home itself, contributing properties on the property include a stone spring house and a log kitchen or office. Much archaeological work and research has gone into determining the original purpose of the outbuildings. In 2011, the structure underwent restoration efforts to return it to its mid-to-late 19th Century appearance. Much of this effort was funded by the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation of Richmond, Virginia. Solitude is situated in a landscaped park adjacent to the central campus area. Though plans to restore and furnish the interior are not yet complete, the exterior of the building can be viewed from the Duck Pond, one of the most scenic spots on Virginia Tech grounds. Visitor parking passes are available from the Visitor Information Center, as well as the Virginia Tech Police Station outside of Information Center hours.

Solitude is a historic home, NHRP site, Virginia Landmark, and the oldest structure still standing on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. It was originally constructed as a log cabin in 1801 by James Patton Preston, though over the years it has been used for a wide variety of functions. VT has used the building as a clubhouse, human nutrition and food laboratory, interior design studios, offices, and more. Restored in 2011, Solitude serves as a fine example of mid-to-late 19th Century Greek Revival architecture. The interior is not yet open for tours, but visitors can view the exterior from the campus duck pond.

Solitude

Stroubles Creek is a 12-mile-long stream which runs through the town of Blacksburg, the Virginia Tech campus, and Montgomery County. The creek, which empties into the New River and eventually into the Gulf of Mexico, flows underground through pipes in the Blacksburg and Virginia Tech sections. There are two branches that merge at Virginia Tech's Duck Pond: the Main Branch and the Webb Branch. Downstream, many tributary streams flow into the creek. During the 1740s, Stroubles Creek served as a water source for European settlers. In 1798, the town of Blacksburg was founded in the upper watershed and, in 1851, the Preston and Olin Institute (now Virginia Tech) opened. The park's upper and lower ponds, which demarcate the division between the Upper and Lower Stroubles Creek watersheds, are man-made. The upper pond was constructed from 1880 to 1881 and served as an ice pond for the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College until 1898 when the campus’s first refrigeration plant was installed. The lower pond was artificially created in 1937 during the enlargement of the Drillfield. At that time, the Main Branch was culverted underground and a dam was constructed. The process of damming the site where the two branches merged is what led to the formation of the Duck Pond. Today, the park area around the Duck Pond is a popular recreational spot. Despite issues regarding pollution, which date back to the 1800s, the pond is populated by a variety of wildlife species, including Canada geese, mallard ducks, Muscovy ducks, and many varieties of fish. Every spring, the College of Natural Resources and Environment stages an informal fishing tournament at the pond. Additionally, visitors to the park can walk along pedestrian paths, picnic, or simply enjoy the view from the gazebo. Points of interest at the park include a large Black willow tree included in the 2008 book "Remarkable Trees of Virginia" by Nancy Ross Hugo, Professor Emeritus Jeff Kirwan, and Robert Llewellyn. The park also serves to link several highlights of Virginia Tech's central campus. The informal plantings on the site merge with a wooded slope to the south, which is connected to a woodland amphitheatre and "The Grove"—the residence of Virginia Tech's President. Adjacent to the Duck Pond is Solitude, the oldest structure on campus. The historic home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Virginia Historical Landmark.

The Duck Pond is situated at the confluence of three spring-fed streams that originate in Blacksburg and flow into Stroubles Creek. Located within Virginia Tech's campus grounds, the park around the Duck Pond serves to unify the university's campus and provides opportunities for a variety of recreational activities. It features pedestrian paths, picnic tables, seating areas, and a gazebo. Artificially created in the 1930s, the pond's serene waters, roaming waterfowl, and lush tree cover makes the Duck Pond a scenic spot—popular amongst students and visitors alike. Near the park is a woodland amphitheatre; "The Grove," home of Virginia Tech's President; and Solitude, a historic home and NRHP site. 

Duck Pond

In 1872, the Commonwealth of Virginia incorporated the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, which is today known as Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Dating back to 1889, the Department of Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science is one of the oldest departments at the institution. This department, along with the Plant Disease and Nematode Assay Clinics, is located in Price Hall (formerly Agricultural Hall). In early January 1907, work finished on Agricultural Hall. Later known as "Old Aggie," this building is situated at the foot of the ridge that runs east of the university president's residence. It cost $20,948 to complete. Constructed of native limestone with Kentucky sandstone trimmings, the five-story structure housed facilities, such as lecture rooms; reading rooms; laboratories; offices; and a library for the purpose of instruction and research in a number of scientific fields. These included Agronomy, Horticulture, Veterinary Science, Mycology, Bacteriology, and Soil Physics. Additionally, Agricultural Hall's basement was fitted for the installation of a creamery and dairy plant. Behind the building were five greenhouses for agricultural and horticultural study and a power plant to provide electricity to the complex. Price Hall was renamed in honor of the longest-serving dean of agriculture in Virginia Tech's history. Harvey Lee Price, an alumnus with two degrees from the institution, became a faculty member in 1900 and headed the horticultural department for six years. He served as dean of agriculture from 1908 to 1945. Additionally, Price also was the treasurer of the Athletic Council and achieved Fellow status in the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He oversaw campus landscaping and is remembered for working hard to protect the campus apple orchard.

Price Hall, completed in 1907, is an academic building in the Ag Quad of the Virginia Tech campus. It is named in honor of Harvey Lee Price, the longest-serving dean of agriculture in campus history (1908 to 1945). Originally, Price Hall was known as Agricultural Hall ("Old Aggie"). Today, it houses the Entomology and Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Sciences departments. Also located in Price is the Plant Disease Clinic and the Nematode Assay Clinic.

Price Hall

James Markham Ambler Johnston (graduated 1904) was a lifetime supporter of his alma mater, the president of the Alumni Association, and a co-founder of Carneal and Johnston. His architectural firm designed many of the Collegiate Gothic buildings on the university's campus. Johnston was known for being an authority on the American Civil War. He helped purchase battlefields around the area of Richmond, Virginia, and was responsible for installing the first cast-iron markers that identify points of interest on battlefields. His efforts toward preserving historic sites in Virginia earned him numerous awards. The residence hall that bears his name was constructed beginning in 1967. By fall of the following year, the building was partially occupied, though it would not be fully occupied until 1969. This 272,019-square-foot hall cost $4,853,966 to build and houses 1,306 students. It consists of two wings connected by three cross-over lounges. The wings are East Ambler Johnston (also known as East AJ) and West Ambler Johnston (also known as West AJ). East AJ houses over 300 University Honors students living in the Honors Residential College. The program is made up of a community of faculty, staff, and students who are members of the university honors program. The freshmen through senior-level and graduate students who reside here are led by two live-in faculty principals and supported by more than 30 faculty, staff, and community members. West AJ is the home of the Residential College at West Ambler Johnston. This community consists of 830 first-year to graduate level students from all academic disciplines. They are divided into "houses" of roughly 200 students, each led by an associate principal, a live-in graduate fellow, and two undergraduate resident advisors. In 2011 and 2012, Barton Malow and architect Clark Nexsen provided design and construction services for a comprehensive renovation of the building. The renovations, conducted in two phases, transformed the traditional dorm-style bedrooms into suites and added residential apartments for faculty and graduate staff. Additionally, new amenities, such as teaching labs; a media theater; game room; group kitchens; library; Honors Commons; and a fitness center, were added. In 2014, the building earned the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. Additionally, the renovated building earned first place in the Virginia Interior Design Excellence Awards; an Award of Merit for the Mid-Atlantic Region from Engineering News-Record; and a Gold Citation from American School and University. Ambler Johnston Hall is located on Washington Street, adjacent to the West End Market dining facility and Cassell Coliseum.

Ambler Johnston Hall is a two-wing residence hall located on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute State University. East Ambler Johnston (East AJ) houses over 300 University Honors Students living at in the Honors Residential College. West Ambler Johnston (West AJ) is home to the Residential College at West Ambler Johnston. Construction on the hall began in 1967, but the hall was not fully completed and occupied until 1969. The building was named for James Ambler Johnston, a lifetime supporter of the university, former president of Alumni Association, and a founder of Carneal and Johnston—an architectural-engineering firm that designed many campus buildings.

Ambler Johnston Hall

In 1961, construction began on the main portion of the Student Activities and Physical Education Building. The new facility was intended to replace the smaller War Memorial Gymnasium. Work was completed at a cost of $2.7 million in December 1964, although it was first used in on January 3, 1962, during a basketball game against Alabama. The inaugural game ended with a 91-67 victory for Virginia Tech. Additional additions were completed in 1984 and 1998. For many years, the arena was called the Virginia Tech Coliseum. In 1976, the building was renamed in honor of alumnus Stuart Kent Cassell. Cassell served as an agricultural Extension instructor (1933-1941), the chief business officer (1945-1966), and vice president for administration (1966-1976). He is remembered for contributing to the physical growth of the university. Cassell also helped run the Virgina Polytechnic Institute during the illness of one of its presidents and helped organize the school's Educational Foundation. Stuart Cassell spearheaded the construction of the arena that now bears his name. As the chief business officer, he managed to get approval for an 8,000-seat gym from the state legislature. In order to increase capacity, Cassell sourced a seat manufacturer that built seats to be smaller than normal, thus managing to squeeze in an extra 2,000 seats. Cassell Coliseum houses a 10,052-seat basketball arena, locker rooms, two auxiliary gymnasiums, office space, and other athletic facilities. It is used for games, commencement exercises, presidential inaugurations, concerts, speeches, and tournaments. During sports events, capacity crowds are a frequent occurrence. The largest crowd recorded was an overflow of 11,500 during a game with Purdue on December 3, 1966. This venue is known for being a difficult location for opposing teams to play, in part owing to a rambunctious student section known as the "Cassell Guard." Major games played in Cassell include the following: <ul><li>(January 10, 1983) Virginia Tech's mens basketball team defeats the Memphis State Tigers 69-59, with 10,000 people in attendance. This was the first time a #1 team played in Cassell and the Hokie's first win over a #1 ranked team.</li><li>(February 17, 2005) Virginia Tech defeats the Blue Devils (ranked 7th nationally) during its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, the first time VT had beaten Duke since 1966.</li><li>(January 13, 2007) VT defeats #1 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels 94-88, a game during which VT led by 29 points at one point.</li><li>(March 22, 2010) VT defeats UConn on national television in the second round of the NIT tournament. The Hokies took the lead with 14.1 seconds remaining to score a 65-62 victory.</li><li>(February 26, 2011) VT beats Duke (ranked #1 at the time) 64-60 during its fourth upset of a #1 ranked team under Seth Greenberg. After the halftime award ceremony recognizing the 2011 ACC Indoor Track and Field Champions, New York Giant David Wilson is observed doing backflips on the court with Nick McLaughlin. </li></ul>

Cassell Coliseum at Virginia Tech is an arena for basketball, wrestling, volleyball, other sports, and events. The building also houses offices and practice gyms used by the Athletic Department. It opened in 1962 as the Student Activities and Physical Education Building but was renamed in 1976 to honor alumnus Stuard Kent Cassell. The 229,297-square-foot facility, which houses a 10,052-seat basketball arena, is distinguished by flanking laminated wood arches that support the roof. This venue is known for being one of the best home environments in all of college sports.

Cassell Coliseum

The Virginia Tech Hokies are the official athletic teams representing Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Hokies participate in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic Coast Conference in 19 varsity sports. Clad in Chicago maroon and burnt orange, their name comes from the "Old Hokie" spirit yell created in 1896 by O.M. Stull during a contest. The original spirit yell referenced the old name of the school and was no longer suitable when Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC) became Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute (VPI). Administrative offices and facilities for Virginia Tech's athletic department are located in the 39,617-square-foot Jamerson Center. Constructed in 1982 for a cost of $1.83 million dollars, the Center houses administrative and coaches’ offices, athletic department accounting and business offices, team and coaches’ meeting rooms, the Jim “Bulldog” Haren weight room, and the Gordon D. Bowman Memorial Club Room (open to Hokie Club members). It is named in honor of J. E. Jamerson and his son, alumnus William Edward "Bill" Jamerson, owners of the family business responsible for the construction of the building and strong supporters of the University's athletic program. On the fourth floor of the Jamerson Center, at the south end of the Cassell Coliseum ambulatory, is the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was established in 1982 to honor and preserve the memory of individuals who have made significant contributions to athletics at the university. As of 2016, 187 athletes, coaches, administrators and staff members who have been inducted. Their contributions are recognized with plaques engraved with the portrait and primary sport of each member. Visitors to Virginia Tech may also wish to visit the Hall of Fame Museum located on the west side of Lane Stadium. The museum, featuring all Hokie sports, spans two stories and includes galleries, display cases, and interactive screens.

The Jamerson Athletic Center houses administrative offices and facilities for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's athletic department. On the fourth floor, individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the university's prestigious sports program are recognized in the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame. Organized in 1982, it showcases the 187 athletes, coaches, and administrators who have been honored with an induction into the Hall of Fame. Visitors can view plaques engraved with the portrait and the primary sport of all members displayed there.

Jamerson Athletic Center & Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame

The history of football at Virginia Tech dates back to the 1900s, during which time the team played at Miles Stadium. By the early 1960s, Stuart Cassell proposed a plan to build a new stadium to replace Miles owing to the latter's insufficient size and unideal location on campus. Construction began on the new stadium in April 1964. Named after Edward H. Lane, a former student who helped raise $3 million for the project, the stadium opened to the public on September 24, 1965. Worsham field is named for Wes Worsham, a longtime Hokie supporter who pledged $1 million to the university's Second Century Campaign. Built at a total cost $3.5 million, the sports venue was the work of two architectural firms: Carneal and Johnston and Smithey and Boynton. The general contractor was Dobyns, Inc. Lane Stadium boasts an impressive 65,632 seating capacity. Since its construction, the venue has expanded four times and renovated in 2006. Through it all, it has been highly regarded as one of the finest places to observe a college football game. Lane Stadium is also known for its distinct home field advantage. In 2005, Lane Stadium was rated the number one home field advantage in all of college football by Rivals.com. In 2008, Lane Stadium was ranked #2 on ESPN.com's "Top 10 Scariest Places To Play." It also carries the distinction as being one of the loudest stadiums in the country. On October 2, 1965, Virginia Tech played their first game in the stadium against William and Mary, winning by a margin of 9-7. Their first televised game came on October 29, 1966, when they beat Florida State 23-21. Their first ESPN game occurred on November 24, 1990, in a win against in-state rivals Virginia 38-13. The Hokies have gone 196-69-6. During the last 19 seasons, however, the Hokies have gone 105-18. Many NFL players have played for the Hokies over the years at Lane Stadium. Some great offensive players include Logan Thomas, Tyrod Taylor, Michael Vick, Brandon Ore, David Wilson, Ryan Williams, Jarrett Boykin, Danny Coale, Josh Morgan, Eddie Royal, Jake Grove, Matt Lehr, and Derek Smith. Some defensive players include Jayron Hosley, Cody Grimm, Victor Harris, Brandon Flowers, Jimmy Williams, Darryl Tapp, DeAngelo Hall, Willie Pile, Rashad Carmichael, and Rick Razzano.

Lane Stadium is located in Blacksburg, Virginia and hosts the Virginia Tech Hokies football squad. At 2,057 feet above sea level, it is the second highest Division I Football Bowl Subdivision school stadium in the eastern United States. Its field is known as Worsham Field. Lane Stadium is billed as the toughest venue for opponents to play in all of college football. On the west side of the stadium is Virginia Tech's Hall of Fame museum, a two-story exploration of the history of Hokie sports featuring galleries, display cases, and interactive screens.

Lane Stadium & Worsham Field

The Hahn Horticultural garden, located on the campus of Virginia Tech, was established in 1984 by Horticulture faculty members Robert Lyons and Robert McDuffie. The garden is used by undergraduate students of horticulture, landscape architecture, urban forestry, and entomology. All features were constructed or planted by students, faculty, staff, and community volunteers with the assistance of nursery and greenhouse growers, landscapers, and others. The current garden covers 5.8 acres. In November 2004, the Virginia Tech Horticulture Garden was renamed in honor of Peggy L. Hahn, a generous benefactor to the university whose donation facilitated the garden's expansion. The Peggy Lee Hahn Pavillion was added in 2006, and the Hahn Meadow Garden was constructed in 2008. She is known for love of gardening and her outstanding service as VT's first lady; her husband, Thomas Marshall Hahn Jr., served as the president of Virginia Tech from 1962 to 1974. The garden features hundreds of species of woody and herbaceous plants from locations across the globe. The foliage is showcased in a dwarf conifer display, perennial border, shade beds, trident maple allee, wisteria arbor, and xeriscape area. Water features include the Jane Andrews Memorial Stream Garden—which includes more than 20 species of bog and aquatic plants—and a pond surrounded by Japanese maples and beds of annuals.

The 7-acre Peggy Lee Hahn Horticulture Garden, formerly known as the Virginia Tech Horticulture Garden, is the largest public garden in western Virginia. This horticultural garden is open to the public daily for no charge. Established in 1984, it was renamed in honor of Thomas Marshall Hahn Jr. (former president of Virginia Tech) and his wife, Peggy Lee Hahn. All features in the garden are built and planted by students, faculty, staff, and volunteers.

Highlights of Virginia Tech

Smyth Hall

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information