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Exciting Era of Monarch Momentum and Transformation

During the Spring of 2025, ����԰��Ƶ celebrated an exciting era of Monarch momentum and transformation culminating with a series of three groundbreaking events for historic capital investments that advance the University’s position as a leading institution to study, research, create and compete.

The first groundbreaking, held on April 16, was for the $25 million Barry Art Museum expansion, which will add a 25,200-square-foot, three-story wing. The project will include a multiuse event space, community gallery, media video gallery, educational laboratory and expanded art storage. The expansion was funded by museum co-founders Carolyn and Dick Barry, Joan Brock and the family of Leah and Richard Waitzer. Funding for this project will also establish an endowment for operations. 

On April 28, the University held a second event to break ground on a $184 million Biological Sciences Building, funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The new, five-story and 162,586-square-foot building will house classrooms, teaching laboratories, a 120-seat lecture hall and other student support spaces. The building is expected to be ready for students and faculty beginning in the Spring of 2028. 

On June 5, the University celebrated the third groundbreaking to mark the $24 million Ellmer Family Baseball Complex at Bud Metheny Ballpark renovation. The project is expected to be completed in 2026 before the upcoming season. It will improve player and fan experiences by offering updated locker rooms and a players’ lounge, an expansive hospitality area, donor lounges, donor suites and accommodations for up to 3,000 guests. With lead funding from long-time donor and current Board of Visitors member Dennis Ellmer and his wife Jan, who were joined by approximately 120 additional donors, the renovation will ensure a bright future for a deserving team at a competitive level in a world-class facility.

In reflecting on this exciting era, President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. said, “It is rare for an institution to celebrate three new projects in such a short span of time, but it is even more special to place an emphasis and make an investment across the arts, academics and athletics. This is a testament to ����԰��Ƶ’s long-standing commitment to provide a holistic, one-of-a-kind experience.”