New Hitt Hall ushers in next generation of construction education, additional dining capacity
Hitt Hall — a cutting-edge facility designed to provide an expanded physical presence for the Myers-Lawson School of Construction and add critical dining and academic spaces — has opened its doors to the Virginia Tech community.
This milestone building marks a transformative addition to the university's North Academic District.
The approximately 100,000-gross-square-foot Hokie Stone-clad building off West Campus Drive will play a pivotal role in supporting the Myers-Lawson School of Construction educational experience. The facility features state-of-the-art innovation and discovery spaces tailored for construction education and research, including a unique two-story Innovation Lab. This lab is designed to support large-scale, student-led projects and foster hands-on learning and collaboration.
“We are excited to see Hitt Hall become the expanded home to our building construction and construction engineering and management programs,” said Julie Ross, the Paul and Dorothea Torgersen Dean of Engineering. “This advanced facility will allow the College of Engineering to partner with industry in the development of new technologies and approaches that have the potential to transform building construction while supporting graduate student research projects and experiential learning.”
Philanthropy helped make the construction of Hitt Hall possible. The building’s name recognizes extraordinary generosity from the Hitt Family Foundation. The Hitt family’s company — HITT Contracting — is one of the nation’s largest general contractors and shares many partnerships with Virginia Tech, such as the Coalition for Smart Construction, a university and industry collaboration that engages with federal and state agencies to drive innovation in the construction sector.
Generous support for construction education at Virginia Tech from John R. Lawson II and the W.M. Jordan Company, A. Ross Myers and Allan Myers, and the Preston M. White Family also was critical to realizing the building.
“This school was created for the industry by the industry. With the support of our generous partners, we are able to equip students as leaders who will reshape the industry through innovation,” said Brian Kleiner, Myers-Lawson School of Construction director.
In addition to its specialized construction spaces and classrooms, Hitt Hall boasts flexible general assignment classrooms and open collaboration zones that are accessible to the broader university community. These spaces are designed to accommodate a variety of teaching and learning styles, enhancing the academic experience for students across disciplines.
A highlight of Hitt Hall is Perry Place, a state-of-the-art, 600-seat, two-story dining facility that introduces nine dining venues, including a full-service Chick-fil-A. Perry Place reimagines the concept of campus dining, offering a blend of culinary experiences that cater to a variety of tastes and preferences. Signature venues include Rambutan, a vibrant Asian street food shop; AMP Coffee, a dynamic, sustainability-focused coffeehouse; Smoke, a new authentic smoked BBQ restaurant; and Solarex, Virginia Tech’s first all-day breakfast diner. Additional offerings such as Velóce, with its swift and classic Italian dishes; Trax Deli, specializing in premium sandwiches; Fresh & Feta, providing wholesome Mediterranean cuisine; and Addison’s Provisions, featuring convenient grab-and-go options, further enrich the dining landscape on the Blacksburg campus.
“Dining Services is excited to bring these innovative dining venues to expand our services in the north academic district to better serve our students, faculty, and staff,” said Brian Grove, director of Dining Services.
Perry Place stands as Virginia Tech’s most sustainability-focused grab-and-go dining facility to date. Grab N’ Gobble parfaits and fruit cups are served in 100 percent compostable clear containers, while sandwiches are wrapped in BPI-certified paper made and manufactured in the United States. Additionally, all venues offer compostable napkins, straws, cups, lids, and silverware, to significantly minimize the environmental impact of the facility’s grab-and-go model.
Perry Place includes clearly marked bins for trash, recycling, and compost, facilitating responsible waste management. Even staff T-shirts are crafted from 100 percent sustainably sourced cotton and printed with solvent-free inks, underscoring Dining Services’ dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainability.
Hitt Hall’s design and construction was managed by Virginia Tech’s Division of Facilities in close collaboration with architectural and engineering firm Cooper Cary and contractor W.M. Jordan Company.
"Hitt Hall is a welcomed addition to the North Academic District," said Travis Jessee, interim assistant vice president for design and construction. "The collaboration and dedication of Cooper Carry and W.M. Jordan have ensured a highly coordinated and intentional development process in a highly trafficked area. I'm excited to see future generations of Hokies enjoy this space."
Hitt Hall joins several construction projects celebrating their openings this fall in the North Academic District, including the Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building, Transit Center Orange and Maroon Loops, and a pair of elevator towers adjacent to Derring Hall. Their completions mark a significant milestone in the realization of Virginia Tech’s Campus Master Plan, which provides a framework for land use in support of the university’s strategic vision.
To commemorate the opening of Hitt Hall, there will be a dedication celebration at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at the building. The event will be available for livestream.
