Darden College of Education Dedicates New Innovative Building
September 27, 2017
Old Dominion University President John R. Broderick highlights some of the Darden's initiatives and distinctive programs during the Education Building Dedication ceremony.
Jane Bray, dean of the Darden College of Education, shows the crowd a curvy pencil case that former Old Dominion COO, David Harnage gave her which is the inspiration behind the design of the new building.
Old Dominion University officially dedicated its new 120,000-square-foot Education Building that sits tall on the corner of Hampton Blvd. and 43rd street at a ceremony Sept. 26 that brought regional educators as well as top state leaders to campus.
At the ceremony, President John R. Broderick said the Darden College of Education building truly is the "gateway to campus" serving as a visual landmark to visitors.
In addition to high tech classrooms and meeting spaces, the building offers nine STEM-related labs, a live teaching lab for instructors, a student-focused career and advising resource center and other advanced amenities.
"If you look from Miami to Maine, there aren't a lot of education buildings on the Atlantic Seaboard like this one," President Broderick said. "That speaks to our commitment to what we are doing here at Old Dominion."
The five-story, LEED Silver Certified building has many state-of-the-art features that weren't available in the college's former home on Kaufman Mall.
President Broderick noted that the Darden College of Education produces more teachers than any peer institution in Virginia, helping to counteract a critical teacher shortage.
"Nearly 30 percent of ODU's alumni graduated from the Darden College of Education. This is an important building to us," he said. "Students feel energy and excitement when they walk in and they hopefully will pass it on wherever they go in the future."
The event included remarks from Jane Bray, dean of the Darden College of Education; Peter Blake, director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV); Deran Whitney, superintendent of Suffolk Public Schools and; Dietra Trent, Virginia's secretary of education.
Dean Bray expressed her gratitude to the construction team as well as others who worked on the Darden's building process. She particularly thanked and credited the design of the new academic building to David Harnage, Old Dominion University's former COO.
"The unique curves and rounded shape from his pencil holder is where he gleaned inspiration for the design of this building," Bray told the crowd. "That same pencil holder now sits on my desk in the new education building; he gave it to me before he retired."
Bray also said there's more excitement to come with the new building including plans to enhance student areas to create warm and inviting spaces that encourages individuals to participate in discussions, conduct work or relax between classes. She ended her remarks by saying the building is a "grand slam" and the faculty and staff are ones who keep Darden's vision alive.
"Our faculty and staff are incredible, from their teaching, research, service and assuring student success. They are the heartbeat of the college, she said. "Today, we dedicate this dazzling new building to our faculty, students, staff and our alumni across the world."
Deran Whitney, superintendent of Suffolk Public Schools, said he received some of his most valuable training while studying at Old Dominion and that the University helped prepare him for the job he has now.
"ODU prepares students for the real world. The University prepared me and I'm grateful for that," Whitney said.
"This building represents a triumph of effort" said Peter Blake, director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).
Blake also highlighted the Darden college's faculty as well the college itself for being recognized nationally for the learning experiences it provides to students inside and out of classrooms.
"In the 32-year history of the SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Award program, 31 of Old Dominion's faculty have received the outstanding faculty award, a total that places the University in the top tier of institutions statewide," Blake said. "Several of those faculty are from the Darden College of Education."
He also noted that Virginia university's research expenditures in the education field ranked No. 6 nationally, which is the Commonwealth's highest ranking in research and that ODU's Darden College of Education was a major contributor.
Dietra Trent, Virginia's secretary of education said the future looks bright and the education building "provides a source of pride for students, faculty, staff and for the Commonwealth while transforming lives and communities."
