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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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.

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

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)

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

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

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.

Drillfield Drive Walking Tour

Smyth Hall

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