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Construction Project Archives
Chessie Nature Trail Bridge
The long-awaited project of a pedestrian bridge carrying the Virginia Military Institute-owned Chessie Nature Trail over the South River was completed in fall 2021, opening on December 10.
The new 210-foot structure, which can withstand winds up to 140 mph, replaces the original railroad bridge that was taken out by Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The $2.1 million project was possible because of the generous support of local partners including the City of Buena Vista, City of Lexington, Rockbridge County, and partners from the Federal Highway Administration’s Eastern Federal Lands Access Program. A new parking area, landscaping, and benches were also unveiled.
Plaza In Front of Marshall Arch
In the summer of 2021, a new project was completed that provides enhanced accessibility to the Parade Ground, honors the sacrifice of Allied soldiers in World War II, and recognizes the international contributions of Gen. George C. Marshall, VMI Class of 1901. The project, which was completed with the help of architectural and engineering firm Wiley|Wilson and staff from Physical Plant, relocated the visual focus of the Parade Ground to New Barracks.
New flagpoles, each 80 feet tall, were placed on either side of the statue of Marshall, and a 21-panel granite hardscape was built in front of the statue. Flanking the statue are two sets of stairs and two ramps, providing access to the Parade Ground for people who use mobility devices. The entire project was designed with Marshall and his contributions, particularly those during World War II, in mind. While Marshall served in multiple roles after the war, among them secretary of state, secretary of defense, and architect of the European Recovery Program, commonly known as the Marshall Plan, he was instrumental as Army chief of staff throughout World War II as he led the largest military expansion in U.S. history.
The entire project was designed with Marshall and his contributions, particularly those during World War II, in mind. While Marshall served in multiple roles after the war, among them secretary of state, secretary of defense, and architect of the European Recovery Program, commonly known as the Marshall Plan, he was instrumental as Army chief of staff throughout World War II as he led the largest military expansion in U.S. history.
“The idea was that the center line [of the Parade Ground] would be directed through George C. Marshall and New Barracks, and that’s kind of the way this has been centered,” said Aaron Groah, Physical Plant project manager. Groah went on to explain that the tan color of the concrete on the stairs and ramps was chosen to evoke the sand of the beaches of Normandy, where Allied soldiers landed on June 6, 1944, beginning the long and bloody drive toward Berlin that would ultimately end the war in Europe. Surrounding the stairs and ramps are dwarf boxwood, which are meant to be reminiscent of the hedgerows of Normandy.
For the hardscape plaza in front of the statue, there are 21 panels to represent a 21-gun salute, the highest honor a nation can render. “We went with a cobblestone look, which was a call-out to the streets of Europe, World War II, and there was also [symbolism] with the cobblestone itself,” said Groah. “As you can tell, each stone is individual in nature. We tied that in with the individuality of each cadet that comes through VMI.”
The seven-foot bronze statue of Marshall, the work of Mexican sculptor Augusto Bozzano which was first placed on the Parade Ground in 1978, was cleaned and polished while in storage. Corrosion had damaged the base of the statue, so a bronze conservator was called in for expert assistance with the repair. The new flagpoles, three feet taller than their predecessors, are a reminder that the Institute is a part of a much larger world.
“The two flagpoles are central physical elements of post, promoting both our allegiance to the United States and the commonwealth of Virginia,” noted Brig. Gen. Dallas Clark ’99, deputy superintendent of finance, administration, and support.
“It is here that cadets daily gather in formation and salute for the rising and lowering of the colors,” Clark stated. “The completed project appropriately places the flagpoles in the center of the three barracks facilities. Now completed, the flag poles are flanked with other aesthetic beautifications, enhancing both the access to the Parade Ground and the statue of VMI’s most distinguished graduate, General George C. Marshall.”
Cadet Parking Lot
A parking lot for cadet cars at Lackey Park, off Greenhouse Road in the vicinity of Rockbridge County High School, was completed in summer 2020. The new, $3.5 million lot, with space for approximately 340 cars, includes safety features such as security lighting and a fence. As in years past, one cadet from each 1st Class room is allowed to park on post, with the others required to keep their vehicles at Lackey Park. Plans call for all cadet cars to be kept at Lackey Park during the 2022-23 academic year.
Anderson Drive
Construction of a new, two-lane bridge over Woods Creek on Anderson Drive was finished just before matriculation in August 2020. The road now curves more gently as motorists exit main post and head toward Jordan’s Point. Turning off the previous, one-lane bridge required a 90-degree turn, but the new bridge has an easier turn to navigate. The project also added a sidewalk leading from the Marshall Hall parking lot to Gray-Minor Stadium.
Preston Library
Near the end of August 2020, an event central to VMI’s educational mission quietly took place: the reopening of Preston Library to the VMI community after a $19.3 million renovation – the library’s first in nearly 25 years. Prior to the renovation, the library entrance, the fifth floor, was somewhat dark and involved two sets of doors. Now, visitors walk through one door into a brighter, wider vestibule and can see the service desk just to the right of the elevator straight ahead.
Likewise, the seventh floor of the library, once inaccessible by elevator, is now accessible. That floor, formerly home to the Mathematics Education and Resource Center (MERC), is now the site of a conference room boasting what could be the best view on post of the Parade Ground—and House Mountain as a bonus in the background.
The sixth floor provides space for academic support services—the MERC, the VMI Center for Undergraduate Research (VCUR), and the Office of Sponsored Programs, which supports faculty research. It is also home to a large study space for cadets and rows upon rows of books.
One floor below on the main floor of the library, where library patrons and visitors enter off Letcher Avenue, is the Turman Room, redone with conference room-style seating. With the need for social distancing, and classroom space in short supply, the Turman Room was used as a classroom. In addition, the newly renovated learning commons features a bank of computers for cadet use, and offices for reference librarians close by.
From the September 2020 Institute Report:
“The old building was kind of long in the tooth. There’s been a lot of improvements and a lot of changes,” said Lt. Col. Tom Panko, head of technical services and library coordinator, who took over as the main point of contact for the library earlier this year after library director Col. Diane Jacob retired. A search is now underway for a new library director.
Prior to the renovation, the library entrance, the fifth floor, was somewhat dark and involved two sets of doors. Now, visitors walk through one door into a brighter, wider vestibule and
can see the service desk just to the right of the elevator straight ahead. The position of the elevator is no accident, explained Lt. Col. Liz Kocevar-Weidinger, head of research and instruction for the library. It’s there so alumni who come to use the archives can walk straight back to the elevator, take it one floor down, and immediately find the archives on their left.
Likewise, the seventh floor of the library, once inaccessible by elevator, is now accessible. That floor, formerly home to the Mathematics Education and Resource Center (MERC), is now the site of a conference room boasting what could be the best view on post of the Parade Ground—and House Mountain as a bonus in the background.
The sixth floor provides space for academic support services—the MERC, the VMI Center for Undergraduate Research (VCUR), and the Office of Sponsored Programs, which supports faculty research. It’s also home to a large study space for cadets and rows upon rows of books.
“This is meant to be the noisiest space,” said Kocevar-Weidinger of the sixth floor. “The trend in education is towards more and more collaborative work.”
One floor below is the main floor of the library, where library patrons and visitors enter off Letcher Avenue. It’s where to find the Turman Room, redone with conference room-style seating. With the need for social distancing, and classroom space in short supply, the Turman Room will be used as a classroom this fall.
In addition, the newly renovated learning commons features a bank of computers for cadet use, and offices for reference librarians close by.
“We’re meant to be directly accessible to the cadets,” Kocevar-Weidinger noted. Nearby, the Class of 1969 Memorial Room is set up for the learners of 2020 and beyond, with comfortable chairs and electrical outlets in the floor below for charging laptops, tablets, and phones.
VMI Police Headquarters
The $5.6 million project to create a new home for the VMI Police, with nearly 11,000 square feet of space was completed in the Fall of 2020. The building itself has been built to withstand the 180-mile-per-hour winds of a Category 4 hurricane. Inside, there is bulletproof glass between staff and visitors, along with dedicated rooms for processing evidence and fingerprints. Upstairs, an emergency operations center (EOC) with a smart whiteboard and televisions for news broadcasts will be able to accommodate eight people working in it at once.