The demolition of the Cunninghams marks the end of Longwood campus` old master plan and the beginning of a new one. Destruction on the dorm building began at 9:00 A.M. on Monday, Nov. 10 and is scheduled to finish by late December or early January.
Work on the Cunningham’s deconstruction was both a symbol of innovation and a farewell to the dorm, which produced memories for decades of students and alumni. Longwood conducted an evaluation of all the dormitories in early 2000. The Cunninghams were found to be in poor physical condition and would cost more to renovate than tear down and build a different facility. Many concerns have been raised over the presence of asbestos.
David Pletcher, Director of Capital Design & Construction, has confirmed that the asbestos has been completely cleared and allowed for the demolition to begin. He says, “The Cunninghams were a piece of history. However, the new Upchurch University Center, we’re very excited about this building.... It’s very needed.”
It will feature a link between the Alumni Center and Blackwell. Pletcher says, “There’s a close relationship there. I’m excited about the design of Upchurch University Center and I can’t wait to see construction get started next summer.”
The new campus master plan has emerged as a result of several factors, one of which is new leadership with the inauguration of President Reveley. New strategic concepts and plans were brought along with President Reveley. Jerry Jerome, the university’s Facilities Planner states, “The existing master plan has kind of aged out. It’s come to the end of its usefulness. We have built a lot of the projects and we’ve done a lot of things on campus that the master plan recommended. As times change and programs change, campus activities change, [and] it was time to start a new planning process looking a few years farther ahead to see what Longwood needs to be.”
The key features of the new master plan include the Upchurch University Center, the new admissions center, visitors’ center, new residence halls, a new academic building and a student success center. Some buildings will be renovated, but are yet to be chosen. Along with these new buildings Longwood hopes to initiate a green campus.
Thomas Frisbie-Fulton, the director of Campus Planning & Desig and University Architect says, “I think it’s important, not only becaus it’s the right thing to do to embrace renewable energy, as Longwood ha already started to do. But we should be doing it in a broader way, to loo at reuse of recycling materials and the reuse of buildings is a great way t promote sustainability in that mindset. Perhaps, most importantly, is th teaching experience and the teaching potential of a campus that engage students to look at how humans impact the world.”
One of the main objectives of the new master plan is to bring togethe the university and Farmville community together more effectively, a well as coordinate changes to both the university and community. Som of these ideas would include the movement of students across town the flow of traffic and different means of parking. The plan would als bring an emphasis to the economic growth of downtown Farmville encouraging the community and the university to work together an bring more businesses and students, faculty and staff to the downtow area.
Cooper, Robertson and Partners, a firm of architects and planner based in New York, have been hired to oversee the use of building spac on-campus. Justin Pope, the chief of staff to President Reveley says “We’re really thrilled that they’re working with us. They’re the kin of people who get to choose their clients, and they were excited abou coming here because they saw a place that has a lot of potential and lot of commitment to issues they care about. They really invented thi concept called new urbanism, which is an approach to planning an architecture that emphasizes walking ability and tying neighborhood together.”
Pope adds, “The marching orders for this plan have basically boile down to, we want Longwood’s campus to be the same, but better. S we don’t want it to change fundamentally in terms of the kinds of plac it is. We just want it to be a better version of itself.” The universit has already held two public meetings in town and met with the tow council. Authorities state that student input will be received with severa opportunities planned and scheduled on-campus in the future.
