The Academic 1 building, designed by SmithGroup, features a gem-shape design centered on the principles of sustainability, health and wellness, green and social spaces, accessibility, connectivity, flexibility, and integrated technology. It has been designed to achieve LEED Silver certification from the USGBC.

“I love it. It’s absolutely the kind of thing we’d like to see there on that campus,” Councilwoman Redella “Del” Pepper said. “It’s really extraordinary.”

The Innovation Campus will make its home on 3.5 acres in the 19-acre first phase of a new mixed-use development and innovation district in North Potomac Yard that JBG SMITH is developing near the future Potomac Yard Metrorail Station.

“This is a large milestone and another step forward in welcoming Virginia Tech and continuing the development,” said Councilman Canek Aguirre. “This building just puts a smile on my face. I’m ready to see some shovels in the dirt.”

Mayor Justin Wilson noted the context of Virginia Tech building its Innovation Campus at Potomac Yard, a former industrial rail site that was an economic engine for the city in an earlier generation.

After years of planning and work, “we are making this the economic engine for the city for the next generation,” he said.

Moments later, the city council voted 7-0 in support of a development special use permit that clears the way for construction of the 11-story, 300,000 square-foot structure to start next summer in North Potomac Yard. The university expects to welcome students, faculty, and staff into the completed building in fall 2024. Plans call for two other buildings, measuring about 150,000 square feet each, to be built as the campus grows.

When completed, the Academic 1 building will provide instruction, research, office, and support spaces for graduate-level programs in computer science and computer engineering, as well as select other programs. Experiential learning environments within this building will be designed to enhance the Virginia Tech experience including flexible multi-purpose areas, research and testing labs, and maker spaces.

SmithGroup utilized computational and generative design techniques to inform the building’s unique geometry. The form was sculpted to capture the sun’s light and energy to maximize photovoltaic power generation. The building will include a space frame to allow for a rooftop solar array, while plans incorporate photovoltaics directly into the glazing system throughout the facade.

At Saturday’s hearing, the city council also approved development special use permits for six buildings JBG SMITH will develop in phase one of the North Potomac Yard redevelopment. Those buildings will offer a mix of office, retail, and residential space and include an “Innovation Building” adjacent to the Virginia Tech campus.

Mayor Wilson praised the university and JBG SMITH for their willingness to work with the city to create a unique project that “plows new ground” for environmental sustainability and features innovative design.

“This is not the same old, same old. I really appreciate the fact that we are stepping up on the architecture side,” he said. “This would not have happened without some partners who were willing to join us in pushing the envelope. I really appreciate both Virginia Tech as well as JBG [SMITH] for stepping up and saying we’re willing to help the city meet some of these goals. We can approve master plan after master plan. Unless you have a willing partner, who is ready to make it a reality it’s not going to happen.”

Brandy Salmon, managing director of the Innovation Campus, also lauded the collaboration between Virginia Tech, JBG SMITH, and the City of Alexandria.

“It’s hard to overstate the work — so much great thinking, community outreach, negotiating, and compromising — that has been done to get us to this point,” she said. “It’s all worth it — because together we have created the framework to build something special from the ground up — a vibrant innovation district anchored by a new Virginia Tech campus where our faculty, students, and industry partners will come together.”

Virginia Tech Innovation Campus Vice President and Executive Director Lance Collins said the council’s approval builds on momentum that has continued despite the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is another clear signal that the innovation district momentum is building. We aren’t waiting to make an impact — that’s why we launched our inaugural class of students this year, hired a new chief operations officer, and are actively recruiting faculty and designing new programs,” he said. “Starting construction of the first academic building will be an exciting milestone and a visible reminder to the community of Virginia Tech’s commitment to the City of Alexandria.”

Through the state’s public procurement process, Virginia Tech has secured a pre-construction agreement with Whiting-Turner; a construction contract will be executed next year. The total project budget for Academic 1 is $275 million.

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Designed by Populous, headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., the design includes seating capacity for 102,500 spectators, a 20,000-seat increase from the current Kyle Field.

“The redevelopment of Kyle Field will result in the finest collegiate football facility in the country and will serve as a benchmark moving forward for future redevelopment projects at colleges across the nation,” said Earl Santee, senior principal at Populous. “This project is entirely focused on preserving the incredible tradition and iconic elements of Kyle Field while defining the future of Aggie football by enhancing a game day experience unlike any other. When complete, Kyle Field will serve as a living monument to the unique culture and the storied history that is Texas A&M.”

A joint venture between Vaughn Construction, headquartered in Houston, and Tulsa, Okla.-headquartered Manhattan Construction Company will lead construction on the redevelopment. Construction is expected to begin in November and complete in August 2015.

Funding for the project will be funded from annual seat licenses, Kyle Field Campaign donations, Texas A&M students and local government agencies. With expanded seating options, the stadium will also undergo a complete reseating. Approximately 120 suites, a private club in a 3,900-seat field box and three different types of loge seating will be added to the stadium.

The much-anticipated project is expected to transform the school’s gameday experience.

“In my short time here in Aggieland, I have witnessed firsthand how Aggies respond to challenges and opportunities. This significant project is a shared vision and shared experience for all of our fans,” said Eric Hyman, director of athletics for the university, in a statement. “Upon completion, we will have immense pride in Kyle Field. It will be unmatched anywhere in the country, with Texas A&M’s history and traditions woven throughout the stadium and its surroundings.”

Other features of the stadium, which will include a brick, glass and limestone façade, include two large canopies on the east and west sidelines to provide shade for fans and amplify noise, the 30,000-square-foot Hall of Champions, and numerous plazas and gathering spaces for fans.

Construction will take place in three phases beginning with the demolition of the first deck of the east side, the reconstruction of the first deck and the construction of the south endzone. Phase II, expected to begin in November 2014, will demolish the entire west side of the stadium, complete endzone construction and reconstruct the west side of the stadium.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recently gave formal approval to the trailblazing project.

"We appreciate the consideration and support of this groundbreaking project by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board," said John Sharp, Texas A&M university system chancellor. "Their formal approval paves the way for the most ambitious redevelopment ever envisioned."

In late July, the university approved the construction timeline with expectations of completion in time for the 2015 season.

“As we have seen with Texas A&M’s transition into the Southeastern Conference, athletics can play a key role in increasing the visibility of the entire university,” said Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin in a statement. “The Kyle Field project is yet another element of enhancing Texas A&M’s profile.”

To track the construction progress live, click here.
 

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The new university department will pair up with the Endowed Chair for Urban and Structural Entomology to conduct Texas A&M AgriLife Research with the university. The partnership will provide research and teaching opportunities as well as Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service programs.

There are several goals of the new center, such as garnering student interest and supporting student and faculty research, teaching and outreach programs. The new state-of-the-art facility will provide the ideal location for students and faculty to engage in research and promote issues of urban entomology to the public. The facility will provide a place for undergraduate and graduate students to learn about urban entomology as well.

Another major goal of the center will be to develop and introduce sustainable technology that will protect various urban structures from invasions of organisms that destroy wood. The center will address issues related to insect population management linked to harvesting, storing, processing and transporting food products. It will also address environmental risks and health risks associated with various insects that are potential carriers of diseases that affect humans and animals.

The new Center for Urban and Structural Entomology will focus on researching and developing new ways of approaching and managing insect populations to counteract their negative impact on urban environments.

The spacious facility will include office space for the endowed chair, principal investigators, research assistants, graduate students and the correspondence course coordinator. Individual laboratories for colonies of ants, termites and cockroaches will be constructed, as well as an insectary for general insect colonies, including bed bugs and stored product insects.

As of press time no architect has been chosen for the final designs. A pledged gift from the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation is funding part of the $4 million project.

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