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Virginia Tech Opens Norris Hall To Media

June 14, 2007

WSLS Newschannel 10

Virginia Tech allowed members of the media into Norris Hall for the first time since a gunman entered the building, killing and wounding students and faculty on April 16.

None of the rooms showed evidence of the horrors that took place there just months ago. The media tour followed the path that police officers took on that day.

At a news conference before the guided tour, Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said families who wanted to see the building had done so during 18 separate tours.

Tech will begin allowing what it calls "phased re-use" of the building beginning June 18. Norris will house labs and offices for some engineering departments. General classes will no longer be held in Norris Hall.

Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said he had received dozens of letters, e-mails and notes expressing views on the disposition of the building. A majority of the engineering students expressed an interest in returning to Norris Hall.

"I determined the best course of action to enable the College of Engineering to continue its healing was to move forward with phased re-use of the building," Steger said.

Norris Hall, a 70,000 square-foot building originally completed in spring of 1960, will continue to house offices and laboratories for the Engineering Science and Mechanics and Civil and Environmental Engineering Departments. Many of the laboratories are highly sophisticated, and some are rare research facilities. Most of the labs, which contain essential tools for students, could not be easily moved.

"The productivity and even the accreditation of other engineering programs" depend on the laboratories in Norris, said Dick Benson, dean of the Engineering Science and Mechanics school.

Access to Norris will be limited to university employees, students and department or college visitors. Security officers will be posted within the building to check identification.In addition, some entrances to the building will be closed.

It cost Virginia Tech $320,000 for cleanup related to the shootings. Another $75,000 was also spent on asbestos removal while the building was shut down, and $20,000 was paid on other expenses related to the closure and cleanup of Norris Hall.