Virginia Tech: Burruss Hall – Blacksburg VA

Description

Burruss Hall serves as the main administration building for what was then the Virginia Polytechnic and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. Sometimes mis-attributed to the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the building, originally called the Teaching and Administration Building, was constructed with a grant from the Public Works Administration (PWA) from 1934-1936. The Civil Works Administration (CWA) was involved with the project as well. It contains a 3,003-seat auditorium that is still widely used. The ceiling and walls of the auditorium were decorated with geometric designs as part of the project. In addition to the original building, two wings and a rear addition have been added.

The contract for building construction was awarded to J. A. Jones & Company for $343,700 in Nov. 1934. Burruss Hall was completed as part of a broader $1.2 million project that resulted in the construction of four buildings on the V.P.I. campus at that time: PWA Docket No. VA 1790.