The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors Building and Grounds Committee this week approved the design preview and review to move forward with a new, state-of-the-art facility for the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, creating a vibrant hub for research, teaching, and outreach in the College of Natural Resources and Environment.

The new Center Woods Complex will be adjacent to Plantation Road in a wooded area long used for field research, outdoor learning, and wildlife studies. The project will add approximately 26,000 gross square feet of modernized research and support space to further the college’s strategic efforts.

The facility is part of the college’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan and supports its goals to advance research and enhance environmental stewardship.

“The new Center Woods Complex is an investment in the future of conservation education and research at Virginia Tech,” said Dean Saskia van de Gevel. “By bringing our faculty, students, and partners together in a dynamic, purpose-built environment, we’re creating opportunities for hands-on learning, innovative research, and real-world impact. This facility will elevate our ability to prepare the next generation of environmental leaders while addressing the urgent conservation opportunities.”

The Center Woods Complex began as an idea a decade ago, spearheaded by former Dean Paul Winistorfer, who retired this year.

“This capital project will provide much-needed research infrastructure for our Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation faculty,” Winistorfer said. “I’m thankful for the support of everyone involved in making this a reality. It has been over 20 years since the college added new space — during a time in which our research programs have grown exponentially. This new facility will support the impactful work of our faculty and create new opportunities for decades to come.”

A model for modern conservation research

The Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation offers internationally and nationally recognized programs and is home to the only undergraduate fisheries management and wildlife conservation programs in the commonwealth. The new facility will serve as the department’s center for applied research and stakeholder collaboration.

The Center Woods area is already home to a diverse portfolio of research programs including the Black Bear Research Program, the Virginia Tech Shorebird Program, the Freshwater Mussel Propagation Laboratory, and the Conservation Aquaculture Program.

A rendering of Center Woods Complex utility yard. Illustration courtesy of Work Program Architects.

Infrastructure for applied research

The Center Woods Complex will include research labs, faculty offices, field storage, and experimental areas. Collaborative meeting spaces will bring together students, faculty, and external partners to tackle some of the state’s most pressing conservation challenges.

“The Center Woods project represents a meaningful step forward in supporting the research mission of CNRE while enhancing the infrastructure of our Blacksburg campus,” said Kyle White, director of capital construction. “This new facility is thoughtfully designed as a gateway for the complex and will expand research capabilities while offering energy efficient and inclusive spaces for generations of Hokies.”

Demolition of approximately 8,000 gross square feet of outdated structures will ensure the site is prepared for longevity and flexibility. The Center Woods Complex has been designed with adaptability in mind, allowing for evolving research technologies and teaching methods.

“By centralizing office, lab, and field facilities in one modern location, the Center Woods Complex will significantly enhance and facilitate the department's and college's work with students and state and federal partners in our efforts to manage and conserve the commonwealth’s fish and wildlife resources,” said Joel Snodgrass, head of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. “It will create a space to work, collaborate and discover, and a launch pad for our fieldwork.”

Additional building details

A rendering of Center Woods Complex east loading dock. Illustration courtesy of Work Program Architects.

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