Winter 2024 Update on Campus Construction Projects Williams School and Lindley Center construction remain on schedule for completion by Fall Term 2025.

By Brian Laubscher
December 12, 2024

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Major construction projects continue to progress on the Washington and Lee University campus 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.

Dining Venue Renovations – John W. Elrod Commons
Renovations to the Elrod Commons dining facilities began in October 2023 and were finished in August 2024, completely reshaping the dining experiences at both venues. The first phase, involving extensive renovations and updates to Café 77 and Marketplace food service areas, was completed in August 2023. The second phase, which expanded the Marketplace dining room and created additional outdoor terrace seating for Café 77, was completed in August 2024.

Wilson Field
Wilson Field received updates to the playing and track surfaces over Summer 2024 and was completed in mid-September.

New Williams School Building
Construction of the new Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics building remains on schedule. Since the last update in August, the exterior of the building has taken shape and will soon be completed. Exterior brick and finishing materials are being installed, as are the exterior windows. The roof is almost complete and permanent electricity will be introduced in January 2025. As the exterior construction draws to a close, the interior build-out is progressing with the start of the interior finishes and the integration of the building’s mechanical and electrical systems. The stairways are complete and the elevator installation will follow next month.

Lindley Center for Student Wellness
The Lindley Center construction is also on schedule for a Fall 2025 opening. The Lindley Center project has caught up to the same production timeline of the new Williams School building. After the structural steel was installed in September, the Lindley Center structure has taken shape quickly. The exterior brick cladding has started and all windows have been installed. The interior framing is complete with installation of mechanical and electrical systems ongoing. Drywall will be introduced in the coming months as the facility takes further shape.

Washburn (Lower) Tennis Courts
The university will begin making improvements to the Washburn Tennis Courts that sit directly beneath the University Footbridge. Starting Summer 2025, the courts will be taken down to grade and reconstructed with a new playing surface. The renovated surface will configure additional courts from singles-only to doubles and will include markings to accommodate pickleball.

Special Collections
The Special Collections area of the University Library, including the archives reading room and the staff working spaces, is slated for renovation starting Spring 2025, pending approval from the Board of Trustees in February. The renovation will require a temporary closure of these spaces until September 2025. More details about this project will be communicated in advance of the area closure.

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