Recognized both for its $1-billion-plus capital construction portfolio as well as its efforts to incorporate academic research with its campus projects, Virginia Tech has been named the 2025 ENR MidAtlantic Owner of the Year. The university will be featured in the March print issue of ENR East, the newly formed ENR region that includes the MidAtlantic states.  

The Owner of the Year is chosen by ENR editors based on not only on an entity’s regional construction portfolio, but also for its innovation, creativity and community contributions. Previous ENR MidAtlantic recipients include the Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation, Morgan State University, West Virginia Dept. of Transportation, Boston Properties, Penn Med, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, DelDott, Douglas Development, DC Public Schools and DC Water. 

Virginia Tech’s current capital construction portfolio has a total value exceeding $1 billion. The university’s capital design and capital construction teams play pivotal roles in the lifecycle of significant projects, from planning and design to safe construction and quality delivery. These teams collaborate with faculty, staff and stakeholders to preserve Virginia Tech’s architectural integrity while incorporating the latest design standards. Their dedication ensures that all projects, whether new construction or renovations, meet the evolving needs of students, faculty and the broader community. 

Virginia Tech is committed to blending academic research with construction projects, creating living laboratories that benefit both the construction industry as well as the university community. This entails collaboration among the owner, designers, contractors and other stakeholders. 

The construction of Hitt Hall exemplifies this approach. This multi-use facility expands the presence of the College of Engineering’s Myers-Lawson School of Construction while adding dining and academic spaces. Hitt Hall was built with a collegiate gothic expression and a palette of materials consistent with campus design principles and buildings on the Blacksburg campus, including signature Hokie Stone, extracted from the school’s own quarries. 

From project inception to delivery, the School of Construction partners with designers and constructors, offering research and experiential learning opportunities. 

Examples of this integration include: 

 ·         • Robotics in Construction: Testing legged robots for surveying, inspection and safety tasks in active construction environments. 

·         • Drone Applications: Utilizing drones for site inspection and mapping. 

·         • 4-D BIM Integration: Engaging students with augmented reality platforms that allow interaction with real-time contractor BIM models during construction. 

·         • Innovative Technologies: Research on exoskeletons, sensors, AI applications, and more. 

·         • 3-D Concrete Printing: This $1-million research project in Hitt Hall’s Procon Innovation Center addresses the Nation’s affordable housing crisis. 

By fostering an environment where academic research, teaching and practical construction activities intersect, the university has transformed campus construction projects into dynamic learning and research opportunities that advance the construction industry and enrich the educational experience. 

Check out the March issue of ENR East to read about the ENR MidAtlantic Owner of the Year.

Justin Rice is Editor for ENR East.