Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Williams Hall

Blacksburg, Virginia

Firm

MMM Design Group

Client

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Area

46,000 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$3,800,000

Completion Date

08/2003

In 2003, Williams Hall became the home of the Virginia Tech psychology department. The 52-year-old academic building formerly housed the university’s English department and required significant updates to meet the functional needs of the new tenant. Virginia Tech appointed the architect to design the renovation.
The final design created a vibrant, stimulating, instructional environment and satisfied the requirements for general assignment classroom space, staff work areas and research laboratories.
The renovation began with a comprehensive building condition assessment and a review of existing documentation. The needs assessment included a series of interviews with university representatives and user groups. A space program and conceptual floor plans were developed through preliminary work sessions, a charette and follow-up meetings with key stakeholders.
A significant challenge of the renovation was the building’s lack of natural light. The design resolved this issue by incorporating windows within the interior walls. These windows enable outside light to filter into classrooms and offices, illuminating the interior space and creating visual connections to the campus.