Last week, upon visiting Blacksburg and campus after a semester abroad, the old adage of “you can never go home again,” was reaffirmed.
Maybe seeing the gradual increase of construction every day hasn’t had that much of an impact on you, but seeing it all at once for the first time was somewhat startling.
With the parking garage finished, construction at Shultz and other campus buildings, planned roundabouts, new dormitories and Main Street torn up, Blacksburg and Tech seem to be getting a facial. (Unfortunately construction makes the town and campus look like they have that green tea facial mask stuff on — I won’t comment on the current construction state though.)
And while trying to avoid being a bitter, old, sentimental super-senior by saying, “I remember when Moe’s used to be Crossroads,” or “It was a crime to cut down that gargantuan tree in the Owens/Eggelston quad,” it’s hard to see the promise these projects claim to hold.
As an architecture major, I understand that Tech wants to grow in numbers, but not necessarily grow in space. Still, having a centralized campus is one of the beauties that drew me to Tech. If the campus expanded, that unique feeling would be lost.
With more people comes the need for more dormitories, facilities and education buildings. Adding these new buildings without increasing the area of the campus is going to result in a more dense campus. The scenery will reflect the demands of the time. Build more and closer together. Fine.
Yet it is peculiar to recognize the similarities between the hopes for the “new” buildings three or four years ago, and the ones under construction now. This is where that sentimental seniority will show.
I remember when they were building Theatre 101 on College Avenue. There was a lot of hype about how it was going to have a rooftop cafe, a huge public lobby, new “black box” technology, and how it was going to change College Avenue into a completely pedestrian area by tying the restaurants together with the theater and park. And while I’m sure it’s a beneficial addition to the performing arts at Tech, it hasn’t done much for the community. No cafe, no pedestrian area, an embarrassing relationship with the park and limited interaction with the community as a whole.
The same story is told with the stage area outside Squires Student Center. The renderings showed a large space with trees, benches and people smiling and dancing. Yet, in reality it’s not that great of a space. It could be one of the most active spots on campus, but instead you can pass by without even recognizing it. Same with ICTAS across from McBryde. Everyone thought the lobby would be welcoming and a great place to wait for the bus. Yet, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a single person sitting on that lonely couch in the lobby.
This made me weary when I heard people talk with such high hopes about the Center for the Arts building, a new cafeteria and possibly a new development behind the current Sycamore Deli location (Meatball Monday should be a holiday).
I’m sure each building will function perfectly as an education facility — the Center for the Arts better with its $89 million price tag. It would be nice if the project actually lived up to what a Virginia Tech building could and should be.
Even though it’s not the same Tech I came to freshman year with the D2 lawn, outdoor roller-hockey rink and no parking garage, I understand campus will constantly be changing and growing throughout the years.
My hope is that the new buildings won’t impede on that unique sensation that only our campus can conjure up.
It would be nice if campus buildings could fulfill more than just their educational role, and actually create interesting campus and quad spaces. We need to demand just as much quality in our new building designs as we do from our football team on Saturday.
A version of this article appeared in the Feb 3 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 13 Comments Write a letter to the editor
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Im just a junior but I was thinking about writing an opinion article like this myself. I don't live too far from Tech and I have always been attracted to it because of the old buildings and the sense of tradition and history which they impart. I love Tech and will always be a Hokie, and it saddens me to admit this, but I think we (or those who make and support these decisions) are really loosing sight of what makes Tech so special.
My biggest problem with this is the new performing arts center they are going to build on top of Shultz. My parents went here and remember making the long walk to eat there daily, as it was one of the only dining halls at the time. It is a tradition for members of the corps to eat meals together there and it especially important for freshmen. And with the Theatre 101 building just built i really dont understand what the rush for another performing arts building is about. Burrus and Cassell seem like they would do just fine for concerts. Its just sad to me that we are throwing these things away to make the campus look more state of the art. that is not what VT is all about, at least to me and you.
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"(Meatball Monday should be a holiday)."
Amen to that!
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I don't think we have good leadership at the University. Steger and the BOV seem bent on growing the school for the sake of size, not quality. To be a better institution, we need to improve quality over quantity. Tech shouldn't be the massive state school that accepts everyone (we already accept over 60% of applicants) lets decrease the acceptance rate and stop trying to be a huge welcome-everyone party.
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totally agree.
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Does anyone know what they're building just beyond the Inn? I heard it was a dorm (which seemed crazy considering how far away it is from academic buildings), but it really doesn't look like a dorm. Anyone?
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Someone told me that it was partly going to be the visitor's center, so visitors don't have to drive THROUGH the cow fields to get a parking pass.
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This is an official VT web site that shows past, current, and future campus construction projects. It looks to me like the Visitors and Undergraduate Admissions Center.
http://www.pdc.facilities.vt.edu/mediawiki/index.php/Visitors_and_Undergraduate_Admissions_Center
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Kudos for such an insightful and thought-provoking column.
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Your article reminds me of another old adage, less is more!
College institutions struggle with the ongoing problem that donors and alumni do not want to donate money to restore or maintain current buildings, these benefactors want a new building with their name on it somewhere. Thus the administration caters to the money and the result is a proliferation of new grandiose buildings that sound good in name, look good in renditions, but fail after construction.
To understand the needs of a college campus, one has to understand a college student. Rather, alumni push for what they want, the illusive wish to live vicariously through present day college students and construct building they think they would have wanted back in the day. Open up the discussion to students, heed the advice of students, and let students have a choice in the development of campus. Earmarking money for ill-functioning buildings justified through features that no one uses needs to stop.
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I don't understand the reason of building an expensive performing arts building. Why....? Tech is not an art school, never has been and never will be. Is it trying to be more so?
If they want to build something of interest, build a science/engineering/tech museum or something related to what the school is known for. The vast majority of the school are Science, Technology, and Engineering majors. I have nothing against liberal arts majors or the performing arts but we already have facilities for them, why build a huge expensive building thinking it will attract people to the area?
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Funny, I live in Manhattan and meet Va Tech Performing Arts Graduates ALL THE TIME.
They are well respected and well known. My recommendation to you is 'THINK LIKE AN
EDUCATED PERSON." Va Tech is more than science and technology. And Va Tech would
fail all of us if that were the ONLY thing they aspire to be. BE WELL-ROUNDED my friends!
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Nostalgia in essence is nothing more than a eulogy.
Places frozen in time cease to exist.
One can assure you that the Tech YOU loved was seen
as a 'big bad change' to those who came before you.
And to those who come here long after you are gone they
will, too, love the place they experience as 'theirs'. The reality
of successful generations is the ability to respect and preserve
what is truly 'history'; be passionate about what is 'now'; and
try your best to understand the point of view of 'what is future'.
It's how communities manifest, grow and continue to be viable
while accepting new ideas and new experiences. The 'frozen in
time' approach expressed by these architecture students is
at once alarming and saddening in their narrowest views. Build on!
Those who can see beyond the mud of the construction see an
exciting future in our midst. I personally can't wait to sit front and
center in the new hall and hear those first strings play.
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build on! but build better.
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