Bishop-Favrao Hall

THE BUILDING AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL

The structural elements that are usually hidden behind walls and ceiling panels in other buildings are exposed and labeled in Bishop-Favrao Hall. The building echoes the department's philosophy that the student comes first. Students can clearly see the structures they are studying in use. Every floor of the building is wirelessly enabled and set up so the students have an open, central work space whether it's studio space, computer café type space, or shop space. All public spaces and all offices have exposed ceilings to allow students and visitors the opportunity to see the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and electrical systems.

1st floor        LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LAB HERE

The building's laboratory and shop area dominates the first floor and will feature state-of-the-art equipment and laboratories. The space will house a Virtual Construction and Manufacturing Laboratory as well as space for two technicians and a classroom. A large overhead door allows materials and equipment to be moved in and out using the department's Toyota forklift, woodshop supplies, and other materials. 

2nd floor

The building's second floor offers a large lobby display area, a small seating area and room to display student work and two large assembly type classrooms with movable tables able to be reconfigured in a very short time. Large wall mounted touch activated plasma screens will provide state of the art teaching using simultaneous video and computer projections on multiple screens. The ceiling configuration is angled to enhance the rooms acoustics.

3rd floor

The third floor may be the most unique space on the Virginia Tech campus. This space features a large open room format, with a central opening to the floor above and from just about any place on the floor there is a 360 degree view that takes in the campus to the south and east, the golf course on the west side, and Brush Mountain to the north. This is enhanced by the clear transparency of the faculty offices. The space is open 24/7 and is used by students to work before, between, and after classes. There are also several different seating opportunities from movable and reconfigurable tables to tall cafe stool type of seating, to a more relaxed reading style chair grouping.
The floor is equipped with two library/conference rooms and a small kitchen area.

4th floor

The fourth floor is the administrative and graduate student area for both the Building Construction Department and the Myers-Lawson School of Construction, This space has two small seating areas that are adjacent to the administrative office and a central opening that allows a visual link to the floor below. Much like on the third floor the faculty offices have a clear transparent glass wall to allow natural light to penetrate into the space and maintain the linkages of faculty to students. The south end of the floor is devoted to graduate students and contains 26 desk carrels and a large work table and small discussion area fitted with a small table and four upholstered chairs. On the north side the space is subdivided into eight office landscape areas for visiting faculty, departmental and school faculty and staff and work areas for several centers associated with the department and school.

HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT

It's been a long road for the Department of Building Construction to Bishop-Favrao Hall. Although the department has been granting degrees since the mid to late 1940s, this is its first dedicated home. Prior to the alumni insisting and implementing the funding for Bishop-Favrao Hall, Building Construction has found temporary homes in spaces both on and off campus.

For a period of time the department was in the attic of Patton Hall, than moved into the attic of the Henderson Hall along with the University Infirmary, from there it was moved across the street above a drugstore (currently the space is occupied by a tattoo parlor). The department was also moved down Draper Road across from the Armory to the second floor of the old Tech Motel, and then into Cowgill Hall for a short period. Later the department was moved to the basement of Owens Hall, just below the overflowing soup basins. From here it's been uphill ever since. In the late 80's the department moved to the rear of Burruss Hall and then into Kent Square above the blood bank and tanning parlor. From there we moved home to Bishop Favrao Hall in January of 2008.

WHO MADE BISHOP-FAVRAO HALL POSSIBLE

This building is made possible by numerous Building Construction alumni and friends, many of whom are noted on the donor wall located in the second floor lobby and on plaques around the building. The building is named after Richard Bishop and William A. Favrao. Please learn about these wonderful contributors by reading their bios here.

Richard Bishop Biography

William Favrao Biography