HAMPTON — Virginia Peninsula Community College said it will close a chapter in its 58-year history when the demolition of three Hampton Campus buildings begins this month.
Diggs, Harrison and Moore halls are being leveled to make way for the construction of an academic and administrative building, according to the college. The $499,294 demolition project is funded by the state.
The original cornerstone of Diggs, Moore and Harrison halls, which are connected, was officially transferred Tuesday, Oct. 14. Boots Feather, owner and president of Demolition Services Inc., which is doing the work, handed over ownership of the cornerstone and the paperwork to John Mason, director of Facilities, Planning and Capital Outlay at VPCC.
The college said the cornerstone will likely be part of the new building, and design plans might include honoring all three halls in the new facility.
VPCC said the decision to demolish the buildings came after a comprehensive evaluation of the aging structures, which were constructed in 1967 and no longer meet modern standards for accessibility, energy efficiency, educational utility and other key areas. Their replacement, also funded by the state, will consolidate functions currently spread across the campus into one facility better suited for today’s learning and administrative needs, the college added.
According to college archives, Diggs, Harrison and Moore halls, covering a combined 58,000 square feet, housed classrooms, offices, computer labs, a multi-purpose conference room, two boardrooms, campus police operations and more. The buildings were closed in phases about two years ago.
“Asbestos remediation is in progress and building demolition will begin (soon), and that phase is scheduled to last until December,” said Mason, adding work is progressing on time and on budget with the overall demolition project expected to last into February.
Demolition will not involve implosion or the use of a wrecking ball, according to the college. The buildings will be knocked down using a backhoe.
Officials plan to issue construction bids for the new building in early 2026, with construction starting in fall 2026, the college said. Completion of the estimated $45 million project is expected in late 2028.
Conceptual designs for the new building were unveiled by the Chesapeake-based firm RRMM Architects during a VPCC College Board meeting in December 2018.
The college said the proposed three-story building, described by RRMM reps as “a gateway to the campus,” will face Interstate 64 for greater visibility and offer 75,000 square feet of space for classrooms, administrative offices, a cybersecurity suite and more.
For more information on the college, visit vpcc.edu.
