Burruss Hall
Burruss Hall is the main administration building, it also contains a 3,003-seat auditorium and houses several departments in the College of Architecture. It consists of the original building, completed in June, 1936 (cost $428,404; 77,080 sq. ft); a west wing and rear addition, built in 1968 (cost $1,536,899; 60,503 sq. ft.); and an east wing, built in 1970 (cost $593,729; 20,638 sq. ft.). The cornerstone of the original building was laid at the 1935 commencement; the first commencement was held in the auditorium in June, 1936. An electronic carillon, costing $28,000, was in 1958 and was dedicated at Homecoming, 1958. It was originally known as the Teaching and Administration Building.
Julian Ashby Burruss
Julian Ashby Burruss (1876-1947) was President from 1919 to 1945. The first alumnus president, Burruss guided VPI through tremendous increases in faculty, student body, and degree offerings; vast growth in the physical plant; and efficient changes in administrative structure. He successfully pushed to admit women and shortened the military requirement to two years, setting the stage for a larger civilian student body. During his tenure, Radford College became the Women’s Division of VPI.
Address: Drillfield Drive | Map Grid: L-4
Originally Built: 1936 | Abbreviation: BUR