Watch Us Grow

Ribbon Cutting

2008-10-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

The Alexandria Campus community gathered to celebrate the completion of Bisdorf Phase III on September 17, 2008. Preparing to cut the ribbon are, from left, Alexandria Campus Provost Dr. Jonathan Gueverra, retired Alexandria Dean of Students Dr. Fred Hecklinger, Commonwealth of Virginia Senator Patsy Ticer, Alexandria Campus Student Government Association President Chris Mastromarino, NOVA Board Member David Miller, NOVA President Dr. Robert Templin, and Alexandria City Public Schools Assistant Superintendent John Porter.

Here are some photos from the happy event. Thanks to NOVA photographer Kevin Mattingly for sharing them.

Dr. Templin addresses the campus and guests in the new theatre.

Dr. Gueverra, Dr. Hecklinger, Senator Ticer

NOVA Board Member David Member

Alexandria Public Schools Assistant Superintendent John Porter

Alexandria Campus SGA President Chris Mastromarino

And now it's time to say goodbye. The ribbon has been cut, the cake has been consumed and Phase III is now alive with the voices of Alexandria Campus students, faculty and staff in classrooms, offices, hallways and labs. We hope you've enjoyed this opportunity to watch us grow.

Sylvia Rortvedt & Kevin O'Hagan

Alexandria Campus Library

October 20, 2008

Moving Pictures

2008-07-30T09:14:00.001-07:00

It's moving day at last!

Registrar Niki Neal moving out...

...and moving in.

Business Manager Derrick Williams in the new Parking Office

IT Specialist Van Ky in the communications closet

Finishing touches outside...

...and inside

Thanks to Gilbane Assistant Supervisor Jamie Sarver!

Thanks to NOVA project manager Dan Priest!

Red Letter Day

2008-07-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

July 29, 2008

It's a red-letter day for the Alexandria Campus. Phase III has a certificate of occupancy and it's time to MOVE IN!

And helping to make that happen are the campus IT staff and the Dean of Educational Support Services who are moving and installing staff computers tonight.

Dave Babel

Max Alleyne

Tariq Arsalayee

Dave Williams

Thanks, guys!

Two More Weeks

2008-07-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

The move into Phase III is scheduled for the week of July 28, and lots of the finishing touches are...nearly finished!

The construction fence has come down.

New sod is in place.

Trees have been planted.

The entrance is nearly ready.

The reception desk is in place.

The Counseling suite is nearly ready for new students...

...as is the Business Office.

The theatre is nearly ready for groups.

Walls, floors and restrooms are bright with colorful paint and tile.

How much longer for the construction trailer?

The Phase III ribbon cutting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17. Mark your calendars now and plan to join us in the celebration!

Theatre previews

2008-06-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peek at the tiered theatre-style classroom

with left-handed writing arms on the aisle.

Woodwork on the ramp is nearly done.

Here's the entrance to Counseling:

And a first for any part of Bisdorf: windows that open. Here's a screen awaiting installation,

and there are built in window seats in the halls.

Finally, a view of the rain garden from a second-floor window:

One month to go -- watch for more completion details and the big move!

Breakthrough, or Getting Connected

2008-06-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

We slip behind the billowing sheets of plastic on the third floor of Bisdorf Phase II

to show you how Phases II and III are coming together.

The brown brick wall is the exterior edge of Phase II. We're looking through the connecting area and the opening with the automatic fire door into the third floor of Phase III.

Going Green

2008-05-09T09:31:00.001-07:00

There's a lot of green to be seen in Phase III, both on the outside

and on the inside:

But there are also some exciting environmentally green features in Phase III which you might not notice, including

Motion sensors to turn off lights when classrooms are not in use
More attractive and efficient ceiling light fixtures with two bulbs instead of four

Multiple switches to control classroom lighting so you can use only what you need

Exit signs that use energy-efficient LED technology

Fume hoods that will vent the conditioned air and fumes to the outside but capture and recycle the heating/cooling energy.

And outdoors, a rain garden that will capture storm water and prevent it running off into the nearby creek. This space will have plantings selected for their ability to catch and hold rainwater over a sand bed that will allow the water to soak in and re-charge the aquifer.

Up On the Roof

2008-03-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

With apologies to the Drifters, we climbed way up to the top of the stairs and got away from the rat-race. Enjoy the view from the roof of Phase III.

Can you see the Washington Monument and Air Force Memorial on the horizon?

Some of us can are more willing to stand near high edges than others.

We believe this is the staff hot tub.

From the ground you won't see the air conditioners, but aren't you glad to know they're there?

And that last picture in the previous posting was another view of what you see on the right side of this photo.

Infrastructure

2008-03-21T06:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a peek at the insides of Phase III before they're all covered up.

Who knows where this was taken? Answer in the next post.

We Deal with Hard Hat Hair So You Don't Have To

2008-03-17T09:17:00.001-07:00

On Thursday, March 13, Dan Priest led library staff members Brandee Worsham, Matt Todd, Jean Hogan, Kevin O'Hagan, Anne Anderson and Sylvia Rortvedt on a tour of Phase III. (You won't see Sylvia in a hard hat since she had the camera.) Join us for a look at Phase III which is rapidly taking shape for a mid-July completion date.

Student services hallway on Level 1; note the cool curvy wall.

Here's the entrance to the provost's suite.

Student lounge area on Level 2. Each floor has a similar space for students, close to where Phase III connects to Phase II. Each will have an good view of a tree which puts on a great show in spring and fall.

The color scheme is emerging,

and the science labs are taking shape.

You can see the seating tiers in the round theatre:

And of course, there will be ladies' rooms

and mens' rooms.

This doesn't happen without lots of planning and plans; this is the paperwork for just the drywall part of the project.

And finally, here's a view of Phases I and II with a reflection of Phase III:

Thanks, Dan, and bye for now! Watch for new posts coming soon on infrastructure and what we discover "up on the roof."

What Is It?

2008-03-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

What is it? Here's the answer from Dan Priest:
"It is a corrugated metal storm water management structure. Basically,it's function is to collect rainwater from the roof and the ground on the west side of the new building and hold it and slowly discharge the collected rainwater into the existing streams. This decreases the velocity of the runoff water and mitigates streambed erosion and helps to filter suspended solids and sediment."

What is the large hole with big metal tubes adjacent to Phase III? Some have guessed it is the campus cyclotron, others say it is the Tomb of the Unknown Faculty Member.

We will ask Dan Priest and post the answer here, but before we do that ...

... YOU tell us what you think it is.

Getting Connected

2008-02-27T13:52:00.000-08:00

The exterior panels are now on the section of Phase III that connects to Phase II.

The exterior panels on the back side are in place. Here's today's photo, with the architectural sketch of that southwest elevation below.

Is Phase III Our Pot of Gold?

2008-02-18T14:14:00.001-08:00

Taken from the Library at approximately 5:00pm on Monday, February 18, 2008.

We Wear Hard Hats So You Don't Have To, Part 2

2008-02-15T09:36:00.001-08:00

This week librarian Jean Hogan joined a group of hard-hatted staff on a tour of the interior of Phase III. Here's a glimpse of the interior where walls and halls have been framed in; drywall and paint on the fourth floor provide a preview of the classrooms and offices to come.

Framing for the curved upper wall in the main entrance area.

Brenda Robinson-Baptist and Cynthia Knight check out a fourth-floor blue wall.

The view from the fourth floor toward Skyline.

Framing for the Business Office service windows.

Looking into the tiered seating levels for the round auditorium.

More visits to the Phase III interior are planned soon, so check back often to see our progress!

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-19T14:17:00.000-08:00

Alexandria's Phase III exterior will be mostly wrapped up by the holidays.

The round theatre-style classroom is clad in galvanized metal panels.

Fall Foliage

2007-11-28T13:47:00.000-08:00

As November draws to a close, fall color competes with Phase III. This is the view from the Bisdorf cafeteria patio.

We're Back!

2007-11-08T11:04:00.001-08:00

Here are some new photos of Phase III. While the outside isn't dramatically different from the September photos, you can see that windows are in and work is beginning on the exterior of the round theater space. It's beginning to look like the drawings!

Inside, rooms are beginning to take shape. We plan to don our hard hats again and take a look at the interior progress soon.

2007-09-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

The round grey part of the new building will seat 150 people in tiered, theater-style seating.

2007-09-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

Do you know what the round section will be?

2007-08-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

2007-08-10T06:58:00.001-07:00

2007-07-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

2007-06-20T05:55:00.000-07:00

2007-06-11T13:20:00.001-07:00

The cement phase of construction is complete.

Plumbers, masons, and electricians are working to complete the infrastructure.

The next big event in the construction of Phase III is the "cladding" which is the installation of pre-cast concrete panals that will make up the skin or outside walls of the structure.

2007-05-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

Another busy week of construction

Phase 2 and phase 3 coming together

May 11, 2007

2007-05-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

We wear hardhats and goggles so you don't have to.

On Friday May 11, Anne Anderson and Kevin O'Hagan visited the construction site with NOVA construction inspector Dan Priest.

Anne ascending to the third floor.

Kevin and Dan.

Aluminum supports for the concrete, which needs approximately 28 days to cure.

Bisdorf Phases I and II in the background, from the third floor.

Anne and Dan discussing the progress of the concrete phase of construction.

On the third floor, looking toward Skyline.

On the third floor, looking east.

On the third floor, looking down.

May 4, 2007

2007-05-07T09:59:00.000-07:00

May 4 was a beautiful spring day so we decided to take a new perspective and look at the construction from the outdoors.

What will Phase III look like?

2007-04-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

Here are some architects' renderings of what a completed Phase III will look like.

Northeast view

East elevation

North elevation

Southwest elevation

April 13, 2007

2007-04-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

April 6, 2007

2007-04-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

March 30, 2007

2007-04-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

March 23, 2007

2007-04-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

March 16, 2007

2007-03-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

The St. Patrick's Day 2007 snow and ice storm is on its way.

March 9, 2007

2007-03-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

March 2, 2007

2007-03-02T13:03:00.000-08:00

The concrete foundation and columns are being poured. Next step: the ground floor concrete.

February 23, 2007

2007-03-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

The crane is now in place.

February 15, 2007

2007-02-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

February 9, 2007

2007-02-17T11:47:00.000-08:00

February 2, 2007

2007-02-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

January 26, 2007

2007-02-17T11:42:00.000-08:00

Groundbreaking

2007-02-16T14:05:00.000-08:00

Groundbreaking for Alexandria Campus Phase III was held on October 19, 2006.

Read more about this long-awaited event and our distinguished guests in the November 3 Intercom.