E&H to Build New Residence Hall

Artist’s rendering of Hickory Hall, left, to be constructed near the existing Elm Hall, right.

E&H to build new residence hall this spring, Hickory Hall

Emory & Henry will begin construction this spring on a new $5 million residence hall, part of an overall building plan that is dramatically improving the quality of student housing on the historic campus.

The E&H Board of Trustees recently approved the construction of Hickory Hall, a large four-story facility that will be located near another residential facility of similar design and size, Elm Hall.

Constructed in 2010 Elm Hall was the first of three residence halls that, according to a campus building master plan, were anticipated for construction near the E&H Martin-Brock Student Center. Hickory Hall, which will be located perpendicular to Elm, would become the second of those halls. When all three are completed, they will form a quad that will include the student center.

By living in a residence hall close to Martin-Brock, students have easy access to mail service, recreational opportunities, food services and a wide variety of social activities. “We envision a residence hall quad that provides attractive, comfortable living conditions and access to services important to the daily life of students,” said E&H President Rosalind Reichard.

The cost of constructing Hickory Hall is estimated at $5 million. The College plans to spend an additional $2.5 million to develop parking near the building and to relocate an art building currently on the site for the new residence hall.

The new residence hall will provide 117 beds in double-occupancy rooms, each of which has its own bathroom. It continues a trend at the College toward high-quality living conditions that are compatible with the College’s reputation for excellence and rigorous academic standards. The design for Hickory Hall coordinates with other buildings on the E&H campus, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Students currently living in Elm Hall boast of the facility’s comfort and attractiveness as well as its ability to enhance a sense of community, which is the hallmark of E&H campus life. They express support for the construction of similar facilities that will allow more students the opportunity to enjoy the dramatic advances being made in E&H student housing.

Olivia Bailey, an E&H student living in Elm Hall, enjoys having her own bathroom as well as the comfortable common areas provided by the building. “Students value attractive, accessible residence halls,” she said. “When students walk into Elm and see the beauty of the dorm, it feels like home.”

Another Elm Hall resident, Daron Vaught, praises the residential facility for its “study friendly” environment. “If I need to be isolated, my room provides that isolation. If I am in need of some interaction or help in my studies, the lobbies and conference room offer a great what to achieve that,” Vaught said. “I think more dorms like Elm would enhance the academic progress of students. There are several students in the lobbies every evening, and I believe it create a more laid-back atmosphere for studying.”

As was the case with Elm Hall and other recent E&H construction projects, Hickory Hall will be constructed with the intention of obtaining LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Emory & Henry has become the leader in Southwest Virginia in LEED certification for major construction projects.

In addition to the up-to-date features provided by residence halls in the new quad, Emory & Henry provides quality living spaces in many facilities elsewhere on campus. In recent years, existing on-campus residence halls have been significantly improved. In addition, upper class students enjoy living in modern apartment-style residences recently constructed in the Emory village.

“Increasingly, Emory & Henry students not only enjoy a high-quality education, but also excellent living conditions, all on a campus known for its beauty and history,” Reichard said.