Design plans for the School of Education's new facility were unveiled in October by Sasaki Associates, designers of the Jamestown dormitories. The facility will be located on a 22-acre site adjacent to campus between Compton Drive and Monticello Avenue, formerly home to Williamsburg Community Hospital. Demolition of the old hospital, conducted by Richmond-based S.B. Cox Inc., began in September and is well underway at the site. That part of the project is expected to be completed by the end of January 2008. Construction of the new facility is slated to begin in August 2008 and the project is scheduled to be finished in 2010.
The School of Education building will allow the school to expand its outreach programs in the region and enable all of the school's classes, programs and faculty to work together under one roof, says Virginia McLaughlin '71, dean of the School of Education.
"Designing the building has been such a collaborative process. Each iteration comes closer to fulfilling our needs -- and our dreams -- as a School of Education," McLaughlin says.
The new building also will feature prominently in William and Mary's plans to improve student options in Williamsburg. In an effort led by Jim Golden, director of economic development, the College is hoping to make deals and/or purchases around the facility to attract shops and possibly a movie theater within walking distance.
"[Our studies] report that students loved William and Mary and they loved the academics," says Golden, "but they were looking for more that they were able to do in the surrounding area. That perception is reflected not only by current students but also by prospective students."
Golden says that with the William and Mary Real Estate Foundation, the College can move quickly to create attractive deals for private developers, possibly within a land-lease situation.
Another goal is to have more student- oriented businesses at the Scotland Street "cluster," which includes the College Delly, Paul's and the Green Leafe. Both the College and the city of Williamsburg believe that these areas would benefit from some redevelopment.
Golden notes that students have more than $11 million to spend in the local economy, and he thinks that they would spend more if they had the opportunity.
"In total, they are spending $18 million in Virginia, so there is a lot of spending that doesn't happen in Greater Williamsburg," says Golden. We think that [students' discretionary] dollars could be spent in retail and entertainment around campus."
