William & Mary’s interim chief operating officer offered the university community the first look today at the early phases of work to implement the Housing & Dining Comprehensive Facilities Plan, including plans for a third residence hall to join Lemon and Hardy halls and a redevelopment of the West Campus in the area of Yates and Randolph.

Jackie Ferree, interim COO, presented the update to the W&M Board of Visitors’ Committees on Administration, Buildings & Grounds and Financial Affairs. Since the launch of the plan in April, the university developed a roadmap to move forward with the first phase of the 10-year plan, including the university’s first public-private financing transaction, she said.

An animated rendering shows early design work for the first phase of the Housing & Dining Master Plan. (Courtesy of Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions and VMDO Architects)

Since the plan was unveiled in April, the university has since completed a competitive procurement process to identify a developer. Ferree asked the Board of Visitors for authority to enter into a short-term pre-development agreement that would kickstart formal design and site work and allow for the parties to pursue financing for the project. The expectation is that a long-term development agreement will be entered into before construction begins in September 2023.

“We have a wonderful set of collaborators in Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions,” Ferree said. “They share William & Mary’s vision — to offer students modern facilities that promote the integration of living and learning at William & Mary.”

A joint statement released by William & Mary and Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions echoed that sentiment, adding: “As we work together in the coming years, our focus will be aligned on supporting and enhancing the experience for the students, who are the heart of this project.”

Ferree is partnering closely with Ginger Ambler, vice president for Student Affairs, and Maggie Evans, associate vice president for Student Affairs (Campus Living), to execute the plan that will modernize aging dining facilities and residence halls in three phases over many years.

The first phase, currently forecast to be complete in 2026, spans different areas of campus in a mix of revitalization and new construction. The work that’s part of the agreement with Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions includes:

  • Adding a new residence hall to complete the Lemon-Hardy complex
  • Improving the sustainability of existing Lemon and Hardy buildings
  • Taking down Yates to build what is being called West Campus 
  • Building a new dining facility to replace Commons Dining

“Right now, many facilities that students rely on every day for housing and dining are more than 50 years old,” Ambler said. “We are embracing this remarkable opportunity not only to meet the needs of students today, but also to build for the anticipated needs of future generations. Technology, sustainability, climate control, innovative social and study spaces — all these features and more are in the foreground as we embark on this ambitious plan to renovate or replace 80% of our residences over the next decade.”

, University News & Media