Volume 83, Number 25"
Wating for Summer Vacation Since 1920
April 22, 2004
Brock Commons Dedication This Saturdaij Shawn Garrett Xeus I.ditor
After nearly five months of delays. Phase I of Brock Commons will be formally dedicated at noon on Saturday April 24th. The massive pedestrian mall, meant to connect Longwood's historic northern core with the rest of campus, will stretch from High street between Lancaster and Grainger halls south all the way to Franklin street. "In its 165 year history, nothing has transformed the Longwood campus like Brock Commons," said Longwood president Patricia Cormier. "What were two busy pedestrian streets through the middle of campus has turned into an architectural wonder," Cormier added. "By utilizing the natural topography of the campus, the creative design of Brock Commons has unified the university community" A wetter-than-usual spring and summer, and the more than 10 inches of rain left behind by hurricane Isabel, forced the postponement of the originally projected November 8th dedication date. The dedication ceremony will begin with registration starting at 8:15am. Following will be the Orr Auditorium dedication in Hull and then the main ribbon-cutting on Brock Commons at 11:00. From 11:30 to 1:15pm will be a campus-wide picnic (free to students, faculty and staff with ID, 10 dollars for Alumni, friends and family). Three local bands-Woodburn Road, Junction and BASIC-will also be performing during the celebration. The Commons consists of a large, raised concrete platform that spans the gap between the two small hills that used to exist between Lankford and the Library. In addition to several large grassy areas, Brock Commons also contains several brick pathways, trees, pre-cast concrete features, a large pavilion
and two fountains, the "CHI" fountain between I^ankford and the Dining Hall, and another in front of the new pavilion. "The purpose of a raised pathway was to create not only a beautiful pedestrian promenade, but also to allow easier access to the buildings along what used to be Pine street," said Brent Douglass, longwood Director of Planning and Construction. "Brock Commons does just that, and we're glad it's finished." Along with Brock Commons comes a kind of campus-wide makeover in the form of new building identity signs. The signs, created by Richmond-based Sign Graphics, inform readers of not only the building name but either the departments or facilities contained therein. Three new campus directories have also been erected at the main entrance, in front of Grainger Hall, and on Brock Commons itself. In addition, Brock Commons also houses Longwood's new 137-space parking garage. Although understood by many to have been an afterthought, the garage had been long planned, and the 7.5 million dollar project actually began as two separate projects melded into one. "The University was in need of a parking garage initially," said Douglass, "but when the Brock's donated the money for a pedes-
trian mall, it was a huge plus." Douglass was also intent on dispelling a recent rumor about the underground stream that runs through campus. Reports have been swirling around the Longwood community that claim Brock Commons is too heavy for the land beneath it, and is in fact sinking into the ground due to a
large sink hole created by the stream. "It is absolutely untrue," Douglass commented. The underground stream is not a threat to Brock Commons, Douglass pointed out, and the Commons is capable of supporting both itself and students. "Although it was necessary to
relocate the concrete pipe which encases the stream under that pan of campus, it is not an issue anymore," he added. The birth of Brock Commons began with the generous gift of 3 million dollars from alumna Joan Brock '64 and Macon F. Brock Jr. of Virginia Beach. The largest capital donation in the history of the University, the Brock's gift was intended specifically to be the financial foundation of Brock Commons. The Brocks are major shareholders in, and co-founders of the Dollar Tree retail chain. Brock Commons is the most major and recent addition to Longwood's campus in a long list of newly constructed buildings and landscaping to be completed over the next three years. .Slated to begin directly after commencement is the final closure of and deconstruction ofPine street between the See-BROCK p. 5
LCVA Brings Outdoor Art to Longwood Shawn Garrett News Editor
In addition to a new parking garage, new pavilion, two water fountains and Brock Commons itself, visitors to Longwood will now notice two new items: a pair of sculptures. The two sculptures are part of the newly created Brock Commons Outdoor Sculpture Program. The program, sponsored by the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, the Art Department, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the Office of Financial Management, seeks to install large works of art suitable for outdoor exhibition all over campus. "We're trying to encourage and heighten the level of intellectual discourse among the student body," said Johnson Bowles, Director of the LCVA and assistant professor of the art department. "We want to bring in current artists to showcase their artwork
on campus, and work with stu- been placed just outside of Wygal dents," said Bowles. "We want to Hall. Be Gardiner's black marble invite sculptors who will bring sculpture entided "Misguided new ideas about art to Angel" was the first artwork Longwood." acquired for the project The two sculptures have "The program is an integral presendy been placed at opposite part of the overall beautification ends of Brock Commons. and redevelopment of The more visible of the two is Longwood's campus," said the massive "Triportal" by East Johnson. Each piece will remain Carolina University professor on display for a total of two years Carl Billings. The large, stainless before being replaced. Over the steel piece currendy sits on a next 2 years, the program direcconcrete and brick platform at tors hope to install a total of 10the northern end of Brock 12 pieces around campus. Commons in front of Iler Hall. The project requires no addiThe second of the two has tional funding from the University.