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Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Update: Construction

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Empty Gym

As the newly-renovated Health and Fitness Center has reopened, what the temporary gym space located at Midtown Landings will serve as has come into question. There is no current plan for the old fitness center, according to Louise Waller, executive director of campus planning.

Possibilities include renting the space out to a business or businesses, as is already done in some of the Longwood-owned property there, according to Waller.

Waller stated, “We are investigating ideas and alternatives at this time.”

There are two major projects currently in the planning phases: a new admissions building and a new academic building.

“Right now, we were really excited to finish up the planning process for the new academic building and new admission building.” said Waller. “The admissions building will be on the old site, with construction beginning Winter 2018, and the new academic building probably won’t start until Spring 2018.”

According to the Longwood 2025 Master Plan, the new academic building will be located behind French Hall.

“We have two major construction projects underway: the Student Success Center and the Upchurch University Center,” said Waller.

The Student Success Center is being built next to Greenwood Library, adjacent to Brock Commons. The Upchurch University Center is being constructed where the Cunningham's residence hall used to be. Both now have visible progress, which has been observed by some students.

“I'm glad to see the building coming out of the ground,” Kacie Reusser, a freshman liberal studies major commented, “I'm excited to see what will be in it."

The Student Success Center is also garnering student attention.

Abbey Mescher, a liberal studies major, said she spends much of her time in the library and is excited for the new building.

“It's exciting that it's going in, that it's taking place. I think once it's all said done, the student success center will help the library become a more central part of campus," said Mescher.

The Student Success Center will also impact the library traffic.

“I would say that the Student Success Center, will of course have a positive impact for us. Our current neighbors, the academic success center, will be moved over there, it opens up some spaces for more library use,” said Cameron Rinaldi, a library information associate.

A variety of offices will and functions will be moved to the Student Success Center as in addition to the academic success center.

“The Student Success Center will hold the offices of the Registrar, First Year Experience, Disability Resources... it’s really going to provide one location for the support services that will help our Longwood Students be more successful,” Waller said.

One goal of this new building, according to the master plan is to consolidate various campus offices into one building. The project is estimated to be completed by fall of 2017.

The project has been in progress for a couple of years, but was slowed down due to planning challenges. However, it is estimated that it will be done by Fall 2017.

“That site is incredibly challenging because the building is going to be perched right over the parking garage…(and) we have a tremendous amount of utilities running through there, it took a lot of patience and forethought.” Waller said.

The Upchurch University Center is estimated to completed by the summer of 2018, and will serve the functions that the Lankford Student Union currently does.

“We have the Upchurch University Center, that building is going to be roughly 84,000 square feet, it’s going to be a large building for campus. It will serve as the student union, which is currently housed in Lankford.” Waller said. “It’s going to have advanced dining options, and a lot more meeting space. It’ll have enhanced office space for the different programs.”

According to the Master Plan, there will be more dining options, more space for students to meet and study rooms with more contemporary technology than the Lankford Student Union building. Lankford Student Union will be transformed to offer more office space for student services.

“The Master Plan calls for consolidation of student services: cashiering, parking services, it’s going to be a one stop shop for business services, when the new university center opens,” added Waller.

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