Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Agricultural Research Extension Center
Replacement of a condemned classroom wing opened the door for the development of a new campus entry. The thirteen acre farming site's existing entrance focused on the functional collection of vintage structures such as the farm manager's residence, international style masonry sheds for storage and maintenance of farm equipment, greenhouses, and the educational building.

Master plans for this thirteen acre campus envision a future corporate educational co-op tied to the region's economic development workforce and continuing education programs. This replacement became the perfect opportunity to functionally divide the site and allow the farming function to remain while establishing a new campus entrance focus on this new building.

A corporate office park vernacular mixed with the existing 1940's international simple style masonry storage buildings set the direction for the architectural detailing:

    •  Large roof overhang extensions
    •  Bracket style supports
    •  Masonry detailing
    •  Clean simple lines


The addition supports academic spaces, administrative offices, and multiple state-of-the-art research and development laboratories. These laboratories support the overall function of the Extension Center to research the soil varieties of the grass and tree plots and the science of endocrinology.