Main Eggleston Hall
Share
After a century of little change in the upper quad dorms, drastic new plans are finally in the works.
New plans have been revealed to give those historic buildings a facelift, and get rid of some of the buildings that have shaped the tradition and history of the university.
Plans will be approved in March at the Board of Visitors meeting to demolish and rebuild Rasche and Brodie Halls, which are reserved for Corps of Cadets, into modern dorms for the cadets.
New features of the residence halls will include air conditioning, more storage space, study rooms for the Cadets to gather and meet, laundry and mailrooms, as well as modest kitchen spaces and a fitness area.
The plan also includes eventually tearing down Thomas and Monteith Halls, and using that area as green space, or potentially part of a bigger repurposed area.
Construction will begin this summer on Rasche Hall, where 286 cadets currently live. While that construction is underway, cadets will be moved into Main Eggleston and West Eggleston Halls, which were once a part of the cadets living quarters but currently house civilians.
Kenneth Belcher, senior associate director for Housing Services, said that relocating the cadets back into Main and West Eggleston just made sense.
“It’s their previous homes, and we thought it would be a good idea for them to go back to their old location for a number of years while we complete this project,” Belcher said.
Main Eggleston used to house male students until it was closed in 1965 for renovations. When it opened back up, it housed only female students, for whom it is still used today. West Eggleston is a co-ed residence hall, currently housing 198 students.
Major General Randy Fullhart expressed excitement that the upcoming project will continue to preserve the history of the Corps while bringing its residence halls and buildings to the 21st century.
“While we’re moving into the future, we’re also honoring the past,” Fullhart said. “The upper quad represents the first 140 years of the university and the Corps. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to shape the campus for the next 140 years.”
Tech plans to hold a design contest between different architectural firms to see who can come up with a unique but traditional view of the Corps.
“This is for Virginia Tech," Belcher said, "and we want them to have a great space that really works for them.”
Not only will the residence halls be renovated, but Fullhart also revealed plans for a new building to go up behind the historic Lane Hall, which was considered Barracks 1, and one of the oldest buildings on campus.
The new building would be multipurpose, and would be called the Corps Leadership and Military Science Building. It would house the Commandant staff, the Corps Museum, ROTC staff, classrooms, the Rice Center for Leadership Development, a tailor shop and uniform storage areas, as well as the armory.
Belcher estimates the project of renovating the residence halls alone, including tearing down the current buildings, will cost around $95 million to $100 million. That estimate does not include the cost of the new Corps Leadership and Military Science Building.
The funds will come from a combination of public money and private donations.
The project will begin by rebuilding Rasche, then Brodie, before building the new Corps Leadership and Military Science building. Montieth and Thomas will be torn down last.
Each building is expected to take two years to completely renovate.
Follow this writer on Twitter @CAustinCT
A version of this article appeared in the Feb 5 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 14 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
I understand the logic of the renovations, and I think the Corps deserves improved facilities; however, I in no way support destroying the history that is ingrained in each of those buildings. I can't get over all the murals created by each class that will be lost in the demolition, nor will there be any replacing the history behind those buildings.
Practically, this will be an improvement. I am just not a fan of the cost, however sentimental it may be.
Reply to this Top
I agree, a lot of history will be lost. They are at least going to re-create many of the old paintings in the new building as well as transfer over as many banners as possible. The project to photograph and archive all of the paintings has already begun
Reply to this Top
As the parent of a cadet, I am in awe of the rich tradition and history of the VTCC and those buildings stand as testament to Cadets who have lived and loved the Corps life for 140 years. But I also know the physical and health struggles the cadets have with the aging facilities, so I fully support the "rebirth" of the Upper Quad. The Corps will be stronger and the return on any investment by the university and the public will be one hundredfold! I am certain that the Corps will devote much effort to preserving all that can be preserved for posterity.
Reply to this Top
Good riddance and about time. They don't match the architecture of the rest of the university and while they resemble the original red brick buildings of the old school their "tradition" isn't really all that much. I don't think there will be much love lost for either of those two buildings. I see more jealousy from older VTCC alumni and complaining the new kids have it too soft...
Reply to this Top
http://www.bov.vt.edu/minutes/11-11-07minutes/attach_s_11-07-11.pdf
The plans were already in the works beforehand.
I'm sure there won't be a housing shortage because of the relocation to Main Eggleston and West Eggleston halls /s
While the university was so busy with the construction on Ambler Johnston halls the corps were neglected so The Corps time is due.
Anyway, once this is done maybe something can be done but the dwindling parking spaces, oh wait nevermind!
While I respect the history of the Corps of Cadets and the cadets themselves; please don't think for a second President Steger or anyone in the administration cares about the Corps or the Corp alumni that happen to be donors.
Reply to this Top
Rasche Hall 286 cadets
Main Eggleston Hall 215 female residents
West Eggleston Hall 198 co-ed residents
Brodie Hall 302 co-ed cadet members
Moneith Hall 201 co-ed residents or 2 floors cadets 2 floors civilians
Thomas Hall 224 co-ed residents * (once held 305 males)
1,083 cadets for 25 rooms in Eggleston Hall (Main & West)
while renovation takes place
New Rasche & New Brodie to hold 1,000 to 1,500
All are capacity based vs occupacy based
Reply to this Top
I lived in Lane Hall my freshman year so I am glad this building will remain. Spending this amount of money to upgrade Corp facilities is greatly appreciated
. It will be a great recruiting tool.
Reply to this Top
It is not uncommon for people to destroy their history. Sometimes it has to happen. If a person has little or no emotional connection to the subject then it means little or nothing to them to tear it down .
I have a very deep emotional connection to Monteith hall .
The younger people will find out years from now how I feel (when somthing similar to this happens to them) but right now it just ddoesn't register. How could it?
Reply to this Top
When I was in the corps, I painted one of the murals outside Brodie (Alpha Company). It has since been painted over by another class. Things move on. We should preserve our legacy, but not make it so overshadowing that it prevents the current cadets from making their own. While it is true that history will be lost by renovation and tearing down these buildings, if we keep that history around it prevents those cadets currently in the corps from making their own history. Thus, I fall in line with camp that supports preserving this history through documenting and memorializing it. We should put a lot into this effort. Personally, I would take the approach of rebuilding facilities with a similar character and preserving the building cornerstones as monuments. Perhaps they could be arranged in the shape of a V or a T and posted on the upper quad alongside historical plaques about and pictures of the dorms. One could also preserve a section of the front wall of Lane as a monument, or scrape off and re-use some of the lane bricks ornamentally around Upper Quad.
Think of it like your rat belt from freshman year. If you truly want to memorialize and remember it, you don't leave it in your corps pants forever - you put it in a display case. The same applies for these buildings - make a display of them and move on.
Reply to this Top
This comment was deleted for violating our comment policy.
Top
This comment was deleted for violating our comment policy.
Top
This comment was deleted for violating our comment policy.
Top
This comment was deleted for violating our comment policy.
Top
lyjistb <a href="http://www.timberlandschuhede.eu/22-womens-timberland-14inch-stiefel/" title="Frauen Timberland 14inch Stiefel">Frauen Timberland 14inch Stiefel</a>
Reply to this Top