The southwest wing of the New Engineering Building, now Norris Hall, was completed in 1960, and the north wing followed in 1962. The second floor of the southwest wing was the site of 30 faculty and student deaths at the hands of a student gunman on April 16, 2007. The wing was closed and renovated in 2008-09.
Norris Hall
495 Old Turner St.
Norris Hall contains offices and laboratories for the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, as well as the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention.
The building also houses space for the Global Technology Center (a state-of-the-art video teleconferencing center), a gathering space for student team projects, the IDEAS Undergraduate Learning Center (where engineering students can work with other students or teaching assistants to go over material covered in classes or labs), a biomechanics laboratory, and the Biomechanics Cluster Research Center.
Earle Bertram Norris
The New Engineering Building was renamed in 1967 for Earle Bertram Norris, dean of engineering and director of the Engineering Experiment Station from 1928 to 1952. Called indispensable by Virginia Tech's president, Norris chaired the Administrative Council, started off-campus engineering programs that evolved into new colleges, doubled the curricula in engineering, helped organize a Student Engineering Council, and co-wrote three textbooks. His service as a lieutenant colonel in World War I drew praise from General John J. Pershing.
Building History
- Originally Built:
- 1962
- Map Grid:
- L-4
- Abbreviation / Number:
- NOR / 132
- Coordinates:
- 37.22944, -80.42312