BLACKSBURG, Va. – Update:
Since 2019, War Memorial Hall on Virginia Tech’s campus has been closed to students, but recently, renovations have been finished, and it is ready for students.
“We reallocated a lot of space,” said Ali Cross, director of the recreational sports department at Virginia Tech. “We maximized activity space so that we could truly expand.”
War Memorial Hall has been part of Virginia Tech’s campus since the 1920s but long-needed updates.
“A lot of people kind of referred to it kind of like a grunge gym, which was awesome, but this renovation was definitely needed,” said David Christian, assistant director of operations.
In 2019 the doors closed so Virginia Tech could start the long-awaited renovations. Now, after a nearly five-year wait, the new and improved facility is about to be fully unveiled to students.
“It’s been pretty surreal,” Christian said. “Going from, like I mentioned before, where it was an older building, and then being state-of-the-art equipment. When I’m walking into rooms, the lights pop up with censors, we have AC where previously we did not.”
We got a tour inside War Memorial Hall. They have a little bit of everything for everybody: dance studios, basketball courts, swimming pools, and a massive weight room.
“We think we can better serve the whole Hokie community with the addition of War [Memorial Hall],” Cross said.
Returning students said the addition of War Memorial Hall will also mean other gyms in town won’t be as crowded.
“I know a lot of off-campus students have been going to gyms around Blacksburg instead of using the facilities here, so I think with War [Memorial Hall] opening, it’s really going to open up for students to be around students in the exercise environment,” said Joseph Mitchell, a student supervisor for Virginia Tech recreation.
This week the gyms are open every afternoon for students and others to come out and enjoy.
Leaders with Virginia Tech said they are excited to see students in here, enjoying all the new facilities.
Original Story:
Hokies will be kicking off the fall semester with something exciting to look forward to.
As students head into the new year, War Memorial Hall will be reopening with extensive renovations, including an enhanced facility for health, fitness, research and learning.
Virginia Tech said of the many upgrades coming to War Memorial Hall, there will be 10 new spaces, some of which include a boxing room, two rooms for dance organizations, a yoga studio and more.
There are also building system upgrades students can expect, such as centralized air conditioning, new plumbing, optimized flooring for exercise and other improvements.
In addition to these renovations, the exterior was also revamped to repair and repoint Hokie Stone, which was originally installed in the 1920s.
The grand reopening celebration will be Sept. 6 at 3:30 p.m.
10 News reporter Thomas Mundy is working for you to learn more and will have more on this exciting news on 10 News at 5.