Virginia Tech addresses a campus safety concern with a renovation

This architectural rendering, courtesy of Draper Aden Associates, reveals what the areas closet to Derring Hall (bottom of the stairs) and Johnson Student Center (top of the stairs) will look like when the renovation project is completed.... (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

BLACKSBURG (WSLS 10) - One of Virginia Tech's most heavily traveled areas is getting a safety upgrade.

The campus announced it will renovate the staircase outside Derring Hall to improve its appearance and safety.

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Derring Hall (Courtesy: Virginia Tech)

The plan is to develop the plazas near Derring Hall and the Johnson Student Center into public spaces. Wooden benches will be added, along with more seating, landscaping, and electrical outlets.

Renovations are expected to wrap up before the start of the fall semester in mid-August.

Read the full release below.

Renovation to Derring Hall steps at Virginia Tech will create additional spaces with seating and wifi

May 4, 2016 -- A renovation to the staircase outside Derring Hall will improve the appearance and safety of one of the most heavily trafficked areas on the Virginia Tech campus and create additional common spaces.

The steps carry thousands of pedestrians from the Derring Lot up to the Cowgill Hall Plaza and Johnson Student Center.

As part of the project, the plaza areas near Derring Hall and Johnson Student Center will be developed into public spaces. Wooden benches will be incorporated beside the steps, and additional seating will be provided at the terraces flanking the stair landings. Numerous landscape planters and trees will provide shade and aesthetic beauty.

"By adding comfortable seating, electrical outlets, and wifi access in nicely landscaped areas we can create space for ‘productive collisions' that encourage students to interact in more meaningful ways outside the classroom," said Vice President for Administration Sherwood Wilson.

The redesigned staircase will also accommodate the future pedestrian traffic anticipated with the opening of the new Classroom Building and future development of the North Academic Precinct, including the Multi-Modal Transit Facility.

Demolition began last week on the concrete steps. A temporary wooden staircase had been built to minimize disruption to pedestrians during construction. The stairs may be accessed from the south side of Bishop-Favrao Hall from the Cowgill Hall terrace or the Derring Lot.

The project is expected to be done before the start of the fall semester in mid-August.