Back to school: Navigating construction in the North Academic District

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 construction and maintenance efforts in the North Academic District including:

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

• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant pathway from McBryde Hall to the Drillfield

• Mitchell Hall

• Torgersen Hall exterior improvements

• Transit Facility - Maroon Loop bus rapid charger 

Pedestrians should exercise caution and follow posted directional signage when navigating these areas.

Please note that while the Transit Center Maroon Loop will be open to bus traffic, the bus rapid charger project will continue until March 2026. During this time, no pedestrian or transportation impacts are anticipated.     

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 and travel on the pathway around the Transit Center Orange Loop and toward Hitt Hall. 

2. Use the exterior elevator tower near the south side of Hitt Hall and travel up to level two to the Derring Hall mezzanine. 

3. Travel around the west side of Johnston Student Center toward Pamplin Hall, and use the paved pathway to reach Drillfield Drive. 

McBryde Hall to Burruss Hall

1. Begin at the southwest entrance/exit at McBryde Hall.

2. Travel south along the sidewalk and turn right to travel west beside Holden Hall.

3. Travel west along the pathway to reach the Burruss Hall tunnel and/or turn right along the pathway to enter Burruss Hall from the east (Norris Hall facing) entrance.

Whittemore Hall to Patton Hall

1. Begin at the north entrance/exit at Whittemore Hall.

2. Travel west in front of the Transit Center building and turn left to travel up the paved ramp beside the west side of Whittemore Hall. 

3. Travel south in between Cowgill and Hancock halls and enter Cowgill Hall from the east side. Travel up to level two using the interior elevator. 

4. Exit Cowgill Hall from the south side and travel across the Burchard Hall plaza. 

5. Turn left to travel east on the sidewalk and reach the north tunnel at Norris Hall. 

6. Travel south through the Norris Hall tunnel and on the pathway to reach the north entrance/exit at Patton Hall.

All accessible routes through the North Academic District

Here is the map for all accessible routes to be utilized by pedestrians in the North Academic District. 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.

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, across the Burchard Hall Plaza, around the Mitchell Hall fence line, across the Whittemore Hall ramp, in between Burruss and Norris halls, around the Stanger Street side of Kelly Hall, in between Hitt and Derring halls, and from West Campus Drive behind Davidson Hall and toward the pathway leading from Williams Hall and into Pamplin Hall. 

ADA parking access is available in select spots at the Hahn Hall South parking lot, Derring Hall parking lot, parking lot facing Robeson Hall, in between Cowgill and Hancock Halls, and select spots along Drillfield Drive 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 Derring Hall mezzanine, beside the Johnston Student Center. 

Interior elevators identified to assist with available routes around construction projects are located inside Patton Hall, Norris Hall, Cowgill Hall, Bishop-Favrao Hall, Pamplin Hall, and Derring Hall. 

For more information on specific project impacts and additional construction updates, please visit the Blacksburg Campus Impacts webpage.