NEW FACILITIES FOR ENGINEERING INSTRUCTION
Construction is now under way for a new center of engineering instruction
at the University of Virginia. Upon completion of the building program, at the
opening of the session of 1935-1936, the present center for engineering instruction
will leave the Mechanical Laboratory and be wholly cared for in the new engineering
group.
In general this new group will consist of three interconnected buildings
forming a U-structure approximately 300 feet on each side, and enclosing a grass
court about 150 feet square. The buildings are designated as Buildings A, B and
C, and they are to conform in architectural characteristics with the University
group as a whole with the emphasis in this group placed upon the arcade rather
than the colonnade motive.
The site selected affords ample ground and provides a most attractive setting
and outlook. The buildings are being erected on Observatory Road to the west
of Clark Hall, the Law Building, and not far from the Scott Stadium, giving a
fine outlook in all directions.
Building A, the main unit, will be of three stories. The basement will house
the laboratories of Hydraulics, Cement, and Fuel and Oil Testing, each in a separate
laboratory; general locker space for 300 and lavatories with several storage
rooms complete the basement. The first floor will provide the office suite for
teaching staff, with eleven offices, small lavatories, faculty conference room, two
class-rooms seating 75, four seating 40, and three seating 25. The second, or top,
floor is to be occupied by two large drawing rooms with two smaller ones for
advanced work; a fine library and reading room with librarian's office, two other
offices for instructors and a blue-printing room.
Building B will be a one-story structure devoted to the Strength of Materials,
Steam and Gas Power, and Road Materials Testing, each in its separate
quarters; an instrument room for surveying equipment with office for the instructors
is included as well as office and storage rooms for the testing laboratories;
a student lounge room will be provided on a mezzanine gallery level.
Building C will be of two stories. The ground floor houses the electrical
laboratory equipment, in a large main machinery laboratory with separate laboratories
for communication, illumination, and standardization work; transformer
room, battery room, and dark room completing the set-up with an instrument
room and office for the instructing staff. The upper floor will provide a metallurgical
laboratory, a demonstration machine shop, and wood shop, tool room,
repair shop, and a large laboratory for aeronautical apparatus, with office and
lavatory. The repair shop will be connected by elevator with the lower floor to
facilitate handling machinery needing repairs.
The opening of this group for service in September, 1935, will supply facilities
of a modern character long needed here to make possible the best training in
engineering, so far as physical plant is concerned, that the University has ever
been able to offer. The well-known rigid disciplines of the formal instruction
will hereafter be adequately supplemented by physical equipment conveniently
and substantially installed without crowding.
It is expected that the experimental equipment and fixtures will be very considerably
increased over the existing ones by the time the group is ready for
opening. Great care has been taken to supply the best lighting facilities for all
rooms and intercommunicating telephones will offer rapid communication between
all offices in the group. More complete details with regard to the buildings
and the new equipment will appear in the catalogue for next year.
