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Coming in winter 2028, Mitchell Hall will be a place where students and faculty innovate, collaborate, and solve tomorrow’s challenges together.

Continue scrolling to explore this new, 285,000-square- foot building which will include classrooms, cutting-edge labs, student collaboration spaces, office and research space, and upgraded infrastructure for experiential learning — all designed to support growth in engineering education and research.

Overhead view of Mitchell Hall
External rendering of Mitchell Hall

Heraldry

In keeping with Virginia Tech’s collegiate Gothic architecture, Mitchell Hall will bear custom-designed heraldry: ornamental medallions whose visual elements hint at the work happening inside.

External rendering of Mitchell Hall

Wind Tunnel Window

Glass windows offer a bird’s-eye view of Virginia Tech’s Stability Wind Tunnel, a fixture at Virginia Tech since the late 1950s. Mitchell Hall will literally be purpose-built around this internationally recognized NATO model facility.

External rendering of Mitchell Hall

Green Link Pathways

Green Links, like the one outside of Mitchell Hall, will eventually create a 3.5-mile network of universally accessible pathways through the campus core, retrofitting Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus with thoughtful landscape architecture.

External rendering of Mitchell Hall

High Bay Door

Clear glass high-bay doors open, garage-style, into the advanced manufacturing corridor, so large equipment can be moved in and out — and students can always see what’s happening.

Heraldry

Mitchell Hall carries forward Virginia Tech’s Collegiate Gothic tradition through custom heraldry showcasing the work happening inside. Positioned at the building’s main entrances and atop its tower, the designs reflect key areas of focus.

heraldry

Aerospace and Space Systems Tower

The aerospace and space systems tower design features orbital paths and rotational forms inspired by the motion of satellites and the shape of reaction wheels that control and stabilize spacecraft.

Aerospace Heraldry
heraldry

Fluid Motion and Wind Tunnel Research

The fluid motion and wind tunnel research design features propellers, fan blades, and layered motion forms, evoking both air and water movement, tying past research to current innovation.

Fluid Motion Heraldry
heraldry

Advanced Manufacturing

The advanced manufacturing design represents three core manufacturing processes: formative, additive, and subtractive.

Manufacturing Heraldry

With approximately 285,500 square feet across five stories, it will be one of the largest buildings on Virginia Tech's campus — but it’s built to blend into its surroundings.

Nestled in the heart of Virginia Tech’s North Academic District, Mitchell Hall is a state-of-the-art engineering building designed to accelerate experiential learning and research innovation.

Public Atrium

Immediately upon entering the building, guests are greeted with a striking central atrium design that provides natural light into the center of each floor.

Public Atrium

This effect is not only beneficial from a sustainability and wellness perspective, but it also assists with internal circulation throughout this large building by providing people subtle cues for directionality.

Public Atrium

The Frith Lab Finds a New Home

Established in 1998 by a philanthropic gift from Ray Frith ’51 and Violet Frith, the lab features more than $150,000 of equipment where students have the freedom to fail –especially those students who are exploring engineering for the first time.

The lab was originally located in Randolph Hall until it was demolished in 2024. Now located in New Classroom Building, Associate Professor of Practice and Undergraduate Lab Manager Nick Bedard ’21 is anxiously awaiting Frith’s new home in Mitchell.

Frith Lab Animation

Stability Wind Tunnel

The Stability Wind Tunnel has been a fixture at Virginia Tech since NASA sold it to the university for $1,700 in the late 1950s. “It’s a bit like a violin,” said William Devenport, Alumni Distinguished Professor and director of the tunnel. “Even though it was made a long time ago, they built a phenomenally good tunnel.” Internationally admired as a NATO model facility, the wind tunnel will get some nice upgrades when it’s enclosed by the new Mitchell Hall, a portion of which is being purpose-built around it.

Glass windows near the main entrance of Mitchell Hall, both outside and in the atrium, offer onlookers a bird’s-eye view of the wind tunnel facility, making it a focal point of the building. A second, private staging area will be used for sensitive or proprietary testing.

Manufacturing High Bay

A large new space helps realize the vision of integrating advanced manufacturing throughout the engineering curriculum in what’s been called the “manufacturing spine.” Chris Williams, L.S. Randolph Professor of mechanical engineering and director of Virginia Tech Made: Center for Advanced Manufacturing, said, “Advanced manufacturing is a physical embodiment of engineering principles like heat transfer or fluid dynamics, so this is a space where students can see a hands-on demonstration of fundamentals but also work on their own projects and research.”

Manufacturing High Bay POI MENU

Manufacturing High Bay 1

Manufacturing High Bay 2

Manufacturing High Bay 3

Manufacturing High Bay 4

200 Person Classroom

A round-style or circular classroom layout offers significant advantages over traditional rows by fostering a more collaborative, and engaging environment.

200 Person Classroom Animation

CEED Space

Support for students starts here

The Center for Engineering Excellence and Discovery (CEED) will also be making the move to Mitchell Hall. The new space will support CEED’s goal of creating welcoming, supportive experiences for everyone who engages with Virginia Tech Engineering.

The space includes a multi-purpose lounge where engineering students can gather for group activities, professional meetings, or study sessions. Visitors will also have access to the CEED support team, which maintains an open-door approach and are available to help students who stop by with questions, concerns, or just to say hello.

CEED Space Animation

Two students discussing their project. A students using a soldering iron. A group of students talking about info on a mobile phone Student using a screwdriver on her drone A student showing off her drone Virginia Tech instructor helping a student with his drone A student outside showing holding his drone Several students throwing paper planes Four students in a classroom holding up their catapult

CEED Space YouTube Links

The Gift

*This is the new section for photos*

The Gift

In 2021, Virginia Tech received the largest single gift ever made by one of its alumni — a $35 million commitment from Norris E. Mitchell ’58 and his wife, Wendy.

Virginia Tech | College of Engineering

Mitchell Hall Motion Graphics Story

Virginia Tech | College of Engineering

Mitchell Hall Motion Graphics Story