Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, New Engineering Building

This new 108,000-square-foot college of engineering building is located at a highly visible intersection on campus. Its articulated modern expression, incorporating traditional campus materials, provides a progressive image. The design scheme is linear, defining the northern edge of the campus with an important cross-axis of pedestrian circulation. Students and faculty can walk through the building’s central atrium to other parts of the campus. It also includes a bridge to the adjacent Whittemore Hall, which houses other engineering departments.
The building houses technologically sophisticated offices and engineering laboratories, a multimedia lecture hall and faculty offices. Specialized building equipment includes a two-ton bridge crane in the modal analysis lab, where items such as jet aircraft engines are vibration-tested, and anechoic/reverberant sound chambers are located. Civil-engineering laboratories include environmentally controlled lab chambers, conventional laboratory equipment, casework and fume hoods.
Particular emphasis was placed on providing offices with views to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The central atrium provides added interior daylighting, as well as architectural distinction.

Photographer: ©Prakash Patel

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