Written by Bryoney Hayes
Each and every semester and with every passing year, ODU continues to augment its campus by adding facilities. The Webb Center, for example, (acting as Old Dominion University’s hub for student activities) recently received a much needed facelift and continues to undergo internal changes. The University is in the process of replacing the old Health & Physical Education building. When it comes to the architecture and the look of the buildings at ODU, the sections which used to belong to William & Mary are quite impressive. These buildings are massive and surrounded by gorgeous foliage. The other buildings look like they were hijacked by a 1970s picture book—and most of them need massive renovations. BAL (Batten Arts & Letters) is due for a make-over, as well as several others.
With all of the different architectural styles floating about, there is hardly any type of unity. The campus is still beautiful, though, with the totally post-modern Ted Constant Convocation Center set in the middle of Hampton Boulevard as a shining testament to what ODU will become. The facilities themselves, such as the gymnasiums and the computer labs, are terribly clean—which is very rare. The eateries, dining halls, computers, stores, and et ceteras inside of the Webb Center are often spotless. The campus is often covered in scaffolding, or masked by hideous cranes and/or disgustingly gross trucks carrying building materials to and from destination sites. This really detracts from the beauty of the campus. Luckily, these things are temporary and are a means to an end.
The focus of the renovation on campus has turned to housing and parking. With 23,000 students and a goal of becoming a residential campus, ODU has a lot of work to do. The school is buying properties located on the streets near campuses and building residences on them like “The Quads,” a relatively new addition to housing. Recently, the school added a much-needed parking garage to the campus. Though it is not completely constructed, the part that is finished is open to students and faculty. Aside from the constant construction and mish-mash of different-era buildings, the campus is beautiful. Its foliage is vibrant and well-manicured. The campus takes advantage of being situated next to the Elizabeth River by incorporating water into its landscape, building things like bridges for students to cross over to get to academic buildings.