Late Spring 2026 Update on Campus Construction Projects Construction on a variety of projects continues throughout campus and the Lexington community.

By Brian Laubscher
June 10, 2026

Washington and Lee University continues to make progress on a variety of construction projects that will shape the university’s future as part of the campus master plan. Below is an update on the progress of ongoing projects.

Campus Utility Infrastructure
Work on the multiyear low-temperature hot water (LTHW) project launched in June 2025 with Phase 1a, which was completed in April 2026. Phase 1b was recently approved by the Board of Trustees and is slated to begin this summer. Completion of this work is anticipated to be in summer 2027.

Founders Hall
The Founders Hall project, which will bring together the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid and the Johnson Program in Leadership and Integrity in a new state-of-the-art building located on the corner of Washington Street and Lee Avenue, is anticipated to begin in June 2026. Campus and Lexington community members can expect vehicular and pedestrian impacts along Washington Street, Lee Avenue and Early-Fielding Way, while Evans Hall will be closed during the construction period. Construction is expected to last 24 months, with the new structure opening in summer 2028.

Evans Hall
While the Founders Hall project is underway, Evans Hall will be refreshed with updated finishes, including new paint, lighting and audiovisual and acoustical enhancements. The balcony located on the Washington Street side of the ballroom will be removed, opening 100% of the space for events. The facility will also adopt a more neutral palette complemented by theme lighting that can change colors depending on the specific event held in the space.

The university’s dining services and catering office spaces will be temporarily relocated during the Founders Hall construction and Evans Hall renovations. These offices will be housed in a temporary mobile unit in the Early-Fielding Way parking lot. The Evans Hall kitchen is expected to remain in operation for most of the project, while a semi-permanent structure will be erected on Cannan Green to host special events.

University Chapel
University Chapel has been closed to the public since October 2025 to modernize the building’s HVAC systems, expand its fire and life safety systems and update the galleries. This work is nearing completion, and the chapel is expected to reopen to the public this month.

Huntley Hall
Design and construction documents for Huntley Hall’s renovation have been completed and are under review. Fundraising efforts are ongoing, and their completion will determine the timeline for the start of construction.

Lee House
Lee House will undergo several necessary maintenance updates following the departure of President Will Dudley at the end of June. The interior of the building will receive improvements to the mechanical systems, while exterior work will focus on the windows and trim, in addition to application of new paint in various areas.

Wilson Hall and Reid Hall
Both Wilson Hall and Reid Hall are expected to receive new sections of roofing beginning in June 2026. The impact on the campus community is expected to be minimal, and the work is expected to be completed in time for Fall Term.

Off-Campus Projects
Rockbridge Building
The renovation of the Rockbridge Building, owned by the Adamson Development Corporation, is now complete and the relocation of various university departments into the 33,000-square feet of office space on Main Street is underway. Departments are moving on a staggered schedule, with all departments expected to be operating within the new building by July 1. The building will house the Copy Center, Registrar’s Office, Advancement Operations, Office of Lifelong Learning, Office of Accreditation and Institutional Research, Office of University Events, the W&L Exchange and portions of Auxiliary Services. The building will also include office space for the Mock Convention and select visiting faculty, as well as storage and lab space for the archaeology program.

Lexington Golf and Country Club
W&L and the Lexington Golf and Country Club (LGCC) are partners in a new joint venture that involves a complete renovation of the club’s golf course, clubhouse and ancillary facilities to support W&L’s golf teams and restore this important community and university asset. Construction began in August 2025, and the target date for the grand reopening is Memorial Day 2027.

The shaping of the landscape for the front nine holes of the golf course has been completed, and the first sod was laid on the front nine on June 2. Holes six, seven and eight will be sodded first, followed by holes four and five and then holes one, two, three and nine. All of the sod is expected to be in place for the front nine holes by July 1.

For the back nine holes, the landscape shaping is nearly finished, and that part of the course will be receiving sod as soon as the front nine is completed. The entire course should be landscaped and beginning its growing phase by the end of the summer.

The turf care maintenance facility, with office space for the crew and equipment storage, is now in use on the site of the former eighth green. Additionally, the exterior shell of the performance center has been erected, including the walls and roofing, with the facility approaching 80% completion.

Work on the pool continues and is nearing completion. However, vital work remains on the infrastructure supporting pool amenities such as the pool house and restroom facilities. The pool is expected to open in July, but the opening date is still to be determined pending the completion of the supporting infrastructure.

Finally, the old clubhouse has been removed and the foundation for the new clubhouse has been excavated and leveled. The concrete foundation for the new structure is being poured this week.

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