Early Summer Update on Campus Construction Projects The Lindley Center for Student Wellness has broken ground while the new Williams School and Marketplace expansions remain on schedule.

By Brian Laubscher
June 12, 2024

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Washington and Lee University continues to make progress on several campus construction projects in support of the campus master plan that was approved by the Board of Trustees in October 2021.

Below is an update on the progress of various projects around campus.

Dining Venue Renovations – John W. Elrod Commons
The second phase of the dining renovations to the John W. Elrod Commons involves an expansion of the Marketplace dining facility that will provide additional indoor and outdoor seating for the Marketplace and Café 77. Construction on this phase began in October 2023 and the exterior framing of the expansion is now complete. This installation of a new skylight feature, exterior precast wall panels, and new carpeting and wall finishes in the expanded dining room comprise the bulk of the interior work completed to this point. The Cohen Family Amphitheater is also receiving a renovation as part of the project, and the amphitheater is currently being regraded in anticipation of the project’s completion. Renovations to the Marketplace and the Cohen Family Amphitheater are expected to be completed by August 15, 2024.

New Williams School Building
The new Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics construction continues to progress on schedule with an expected completion date of August 2025. The building’s foundation is complete and most of the structural steel has been installed. The building has been topped out and framing of the exterior walls has begun. Additionally, the metal studs are beginning to frame the interior wall partitions in anticipation of the exterior walls, which are expected to be in place by the end of the summer.

Lindley Center for Student Wellness
Construction on the new Lindley Center for Student Wellness began the first week of April and is progressing on schedule. The building will sit on the hillside between the lower tennis courts and the steps that lead from the Woods Creek Apartments to Sydney Lewis Hall. Initial construction included the removal of trees and soil in preparation for the foundation, which is expected to be poured before the end of June. East Denny Circle is currently closed to pedestrian and vehicular traffic while the utility infrastructure is installed. W&L community members can expect to see the foundation installed by August and the structure’s steel framing to be erected by the end of the summer.

Wilson Field
Wilson Field is receiving updates to the competition surfaces and has been offline since early May. The renovation will replace the existing Field Turf ® playing surface that was installed in 2011 and has outlived the recommended 10-year lifespan. New drains and drain covers surrounding the field will also be replaced, while the track surrounding the field will receive its first resurfacing since it was installed during the original construction in 2008. The project is tracking on schedule, with the track and field surfaces receiving new base layers this month. The project is expected to be completed by mid-September 2024, in time for the first home football game.

Sydney Lewis Hall Maintenance Work
Exterior maintenance work to Sydney Lewis Hall will commence the final week of July. This work will include the trimming and removal of some large trees, as well as refurbishment to the courtyard area and concrete steps. The building will also receive new lighting for the courtyard and various exterior hardscape improvements. Parking around the building will be limited when tree maintenance is performed during the last week of July.

117 McLaughlin Street (Yellow House)
The university-owned Yellow House at 117 McLaughlin Street is scheduled to be demolished during the week of June 17, 2024. This demolition is expected to take only two to three days. No additional construction is planned for the site, which will serve as green space on McLaughlin Street.

Woods Creek East
The university recently began installing a new roof on the Woods Creek East Apartments. This work is not expected to impact campus and will be completed by mid-July 2024.

Campus Utility Infrastructure
Over the next two years, the university will perform $17.7 million in improvements to the campus utility infrastructure to support the goal of reducing W&L’s dependency on natural gas to reduce carbon emissions and ultimately reach carbon neutrality. Starting this month, campus community members can expect utility surveying activities around campus, particularly in the vicinity of Gaines, Graham Lees, Elrod Commons and the Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center. Further updates about utility improvement activities will be communicated throughout this ongoing long-term project.

For continuous updates on the university’s capital projects, please visit the Capital Projects update page on the University Facilities website.