20 June 2003

Coming soon - a New, Improved Grainger Hall   (photo album)

Less than a year after its official groundbreaking last July 18, Grainger
Hall is on schedule - despite the soggiest spring in recent memory - and
is "shaping up on an hourly basis," said Brent Douglass, director of
facilities management, during a recent tour of the nearly-complete building.

"June 27 is the 'substantial completion' date, which is a contractual
term," he said. "The fire marshal has to come in and give his approval.
Then we can begin moving furniture and computer equipment, which we'll do
the first week in July. Faculty begin moving in August 4."

The four-story, 27,694-square foot building will house the Department of
English and Modern Languages, which has occupied three modular units
between the Library and the Academic Residence Community (ARC) as well as
part of the Wynne Building since shortly after the fire of April 24, 2001.
(The Philosophy program, which for years has been with English and Modern
Languages, will become part of the new Department of History, Political
Science and Philosophy, and its two faculty members will move to Wynne.)
The old Grainger, which dated to 1903, sustained severe water and smoke
damage in the fire, necessitating its demolition in late September 2001.

The new Grainger looks virtually identical to its predecessor on the
exterior, though it won't connect to West Ruffner. The Grainger work - the
construction totals $4.7 million, the overall project $5.5 million - is
being done by English Construction Co. of Lynchburg. Carpet, tile, light
fixtures and a sophisticated fire alarm system are being installed these
days. While Douglass led three members of the public relations staff on a
tour recently, work proceeded apace nearby on the new Ruffner, where steel
framing is going up that will form the framework for the floors and walls.

On the inside, the new Grainger is even better. It contains 12 classrooms,
including a large one in the middle of each floor and two smaller ones at
the back of the building, as well as a language lab on the third floor, a
computer lab on the ground floor (the Mobile Lab, currently in a trailer
behind Graham, is being relocated there), and offices for 33 faculty
members. The offices are on the east side of each floor, facing West
Ruffner. The doors to each classroom have two small windows, beside which
are two larger windows (sidelights).

The most stunning feature is an atrium at the front entrance on the first
floor. The curved atrium has oak veneer panels covering the walls, a
recessed display case on either side of the entrance, and, immediately
behind the small lobby area, a conference room with a large window looking
out into the lobby. An art deco-style chandelier hangs from the second
floor scalloped ceiling. A student lounge area overlooks the lobby from the
second floor retro-look balcony. It also features oak veneer panels, as on
the first floor, and will have a railing of brass and heavy glass panels
around the balcony.

The entrance floors, now covered with paper, are terrazzo. "They're a
beautiful combination of black, blue and white terrazzo," said Douglass.

The computer lab has outlets for 30 computers. "We have wired this building
for technology, big-time," Douglass said. "There will be a permanently
mounted projector in the ceiling controlled by an instructor's console in
each classroom."

Each of the upper three floors will have a "study alcove" on the Pine
Street side near the back, one of which may have vending machines, Douglass
said.

Five cast stone panels from the front of the old Grainger - the only
architectural feature from that building - are in place between the second
and third floor windows on the front. The new cupola is atop the roof.
White columns and capitals arrived recently and will go up soon.

Unlike the old Grainger, there will be no connector on the ground level to
Ruffner. "The only physical connector is underground (the ground slopes
down away from High Street). The underground vault will connect the
mechanical room in Grainger to a mechanical room in Ruffner. There won't be
a public connection," Douglass said.

In another minor difference, there will be no entrance from the side facing
Ruffner. The only entrances are at the front, facing High Street, and on
the Pine Street side of the ground level near the rear, which Douglass
suspects will be the most heavily-used entrance.

The new building is about six-to-seven feet taller than the old Grainger
building, due to the additional space required for mechanical systems
between each floor. Nevertheless, the new Grainger is in nearly the same
exact spot as its predecessor. "The location of the new Grainger and new
Ruffner on the site is within inches of the old buildings' location,"
Douglass said.

The pavement on Pine Street will be gone by August 1, clearing the way for
Brock Commons. Except for the sidewalks, "it will be completely green from
the side of Lancaster over to Grainger," Douglass said.

Plans are under way for a grand opening ceremony.

Click here to view the "sneak preview" photo album>>