12 DECEMBER 2002

Longwood celebrates groundbreaking for flagship Ruffner Hall

The Rotunda

“597 days, 16 hours, and 50 minutes have passed since April 24, 2001, but it seems like yesterday that we stood in this area and watched the flames soar into the sky and our beloved Rotunda and Ruffners crumple to the ground.” With those words, Dr. Patricia P. Cormier, President of Longwood University, opened the groundbreaking ceremony for Ruffner Hall and the signature Rotunda--the flagship of the university.

It was a special day for Longwood University as students, faculty, staff, and community members gathered in Bicentennial Park directly across the street from the construction site. Due to the recent snow and ice accumulation, the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony was held on the high ground of the park on High Street. “We are here to celebrate today,” Dr. Cormier stated with enthusiasm, “the Rotunda and the Ruffners, like the Phoenix, are rising from the ashes and Longwood’s signature buildings will once again reign on High Street, just as it was 112 years ago when the Rotunda and main Ruffner were first built.” Distinguished speakers adding to the significance of the moment, included Rector Ann Baise and Dr. Brian Bates, a Longwood faculty member who is also a Longwood graduate and was one of the volunteers firefighters who fought the blaze on that historic night.

Although Ruffner Hall and the Rotunda were completely destroyed by the fire, all of the historic memorabilia, paintings, plaques, and other mementos, including the dome paintings on the interior of the Rotunda dome, had been removed because the buildings were undergoing a major $12 million renovation. Once construction is completed in late 2004 those historic items will be returned to their rightful place.

A few historic items were rescued from the rubble, including a brick from Main Ruffner and a lag bolt from the rim of the Rotunda.

Some additional historic items, rescued from the rubble, were a focal point of today’s ceremony. Reading from a narrative penned by Dr. James Jordan, professor of anthropology, Dr. Cormier handed each of the seven salvaged items to Sarah Anastas, senior class president who then placed the items into a wooden box handcrafted from some of the original flooring of the Rotunda by Dick Bratcher, vice president for facilities and technology. The box will be kept for safekeeping by the contractor, English Construction (Lynchburg, VA) and eventually given a place of honor in the new Rotunda.

A sketch of what the inside of the Rotunda will look like when completed.

When completed in late 2004, the new Ruffner complex will encompass over 83,000 square feet and will provide 20 classrooms, 63 faculty offices and 28 offices for the Provost and staff of the Office of Academic Affairs.

 

 

 

 

Other photos from the ceremony:
(Click to enlarge)