Drillfield Drive Walking Tour

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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.

2. Virginia Tech War Memorial Chapel

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.

3. Carol M. Newman Library

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.

4. Drillfield (Virginia Tech)

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.

5. War Memorial Hall

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.

6. Smyth Hall

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.

7. Price Hall

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.

8. Virginia Tech April 16 Memorial: We Remember

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.

9. Burruss Hall

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.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Drillfield Drive Walking Tour

Created by Angelica Garcia on February 19th 2017, 8:22:28 pm.

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The Drillfield is the central location on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). The expansive lawn, surrounded by a one-way street known as Drillfield Drive, is an anchor of student life at the university. Its crisscrossing paths serve as a pedestrian thoroughfare to the other parts of the campus. Discover the historic buildings and monuments at the heart of Virginia Tech through this brief walking tour along Drillfield Drive.

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Drillfield Drive Walking Tour

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