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 complete 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.
Joining Buildings A and C will be an auditorium seating 300, equipped
with sound-picture projection and special demonstration lecture table.
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.
