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Back to school: Navigating pathways in the North Academic District during construction

From: Division of Facilities 

Back on the Blacksburg campus and need help navigating around the North Academic District? Let’s break down the ongoing projects and identify some of the various accessible pathways to utilize this fall semester. 

To accommodate capital construction and maintenance efforts in the North Academic District including:

Pedestrians should exercise caution and follow posted directional signage when navigating the area.

Please note that while the Transit Center’s Orange and Maroon Loops are in full operation, the Transit Center building is unavailable at this time.

Due to the evolving nature of these projects, accessible and pedestrian pathways as well as emergency and delivery vehicle access are subject to change. Changes in routes will be communicated via Virginia Tech News, the interactive campus and campus closures maps, Division of Facilities X account and Instagram account, and directional signage. 

Questions may be directed to vtfacilities@vt.edu

Accessible navigation through popular pedestrian routes

Here are some potential options for accessible routes through the North Academic District. For a full list of available routes, please visit the Interactive Campus Map

Data and Decision Sciences Building to the Drillfield

  1. Begin near Perry Street Parking Garage and travel toward the west (Hitt Hall facing) entrance of Cowgill Hall. 

  2. Enter Cowgill Hall using the west entrance and use the elevator on the first level to travel up to level two. 

  3. Once on level two, exit Cowgill Hall out onto the Burchard Hall Plaza. 

  4. Travel around the east (Norris Hall facing) side of Burruss Hall and toward Patton Hall.

  5. Enter Patton Hall using the north entrance and use the elevator on the first level to travel down to the basement level (B). 

  6. Exit Patton Hall from the basement level and arrive on the sidewalk facing Drillfield Drive.

Hahn Hall South to McBryde Hall

  1. Begin at the south (Davidson Hall) facing entrance/exit at Hahn Hall South. 

  2. Travel left and use the paved pathway in between Williams Hall and Davidson Hall to connect to the sidewalk facing Drillfield Drive. 

  3. Travel east on the sidewalk facing Drillfield Drive and pass the intersection of Drillfield Drive and Stanger Street. 

  4. Use the paved pathways to enter McBryde Hall from the south entrance.

Classroom Building to Burruss Hall

  1. Begin at the east (Transit Center) facing entrance/exit at the Classroom Building. 
  2. Turn right and use the paved pathways to enter Hitt Hall and move through the building to exit out of the south facing entrance/exit.
  3. Travel straight into Derring Hall and use the elevator on the first level to travel up to level two. 
  4. Once on level two, exit out of Derring Hall using the south facing entrance/exit and travel towards Pamplin Hall.
  5. Enter Pamplin Hall from the west (Robeson Hall) facing entrance and travel toward past offices to the east part of the building.
  6. Follow signage that points to the Johnston Student Center and travel through the connecting door. 
  7. Once inside Johnston Student Center, use the elevator on the first floor to travel up to level three. 
  8. Exit the elevator and travel across the bridge into Burruss Hall.

All accessible routes through the North Academic District

Please Note: To accommodate concrete placement, a section of the sidewalk along the north side of Cowgill Hall will be temporarily unavailable from Wednesday, Sept. 11 - Friday, Sept. 13. 

During this time, alternate ADA pathways will remain unobstructed.

Here is the map for all accessible routes to be utilized by pedestrians in the North Academic District beginning Sept. 9. Signage will be posted to aid in navigation. 

In addition to this map, pedestrians are encouraged to use the interactive campus and campus closures maps.

ADA-compliant routes in the North Academic District starting Sept. 9.

Accessible routes are available along the Transit Center Loops, on the pathway in between Durham and Whittemore Halls, in between Bishop-Favrao and Hitt Halls, on the Burchard Hall Plaza, around the Mitchell Hall fence line, around and across the Bishop-Favrao Plaza, in between Burruss and Norris Halls, in between Holden and McBryde Halls, in between Robeson and Pamplin Halls, around the Stanger Street side of Kelly Hall, in between Hitt and Derring Halls, and from West Campus Drive behind Davidson Hall and towards the pathway leading Williams Hall and into Pamplin Hall. 

ADA parking access is available in select spots at Hahn Hall South parking lot, Derring Hall parking lot, parking lot facing Robeson Hall, in between Cowgill and Hancock Halls, and select spots along the Drillfield across from Burruss Hall. 

Exterior elevators are available for use next to the first level of Derring Hall, facing Hitt Hall, as well as, near the stairwell facing the second floor of Derring Hall, beside the Johnston Student Center. 

Interior elevators identified to assist with recommended navigation around construction projects are located inside Patton Hall, Norris Hall, Cowgill Hall, Bishop-Favrao Hall, Johnston Student Center, Pamplin Hall, and Derring Hall. 

For more information on specific project impacts, including capital project fencing areas and additional construction interruptions, please visit:

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant pathway from G. Burke Johnston Student Center to the Drillfield

Norris Hall exterior repairs: Aug. 12-March 15

Burruss Hall tower and main entrance improvements: May-Dec. 2024  

Parking, pedestrian impacts: Mitchell Hall construction

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