The University of Virginia's College at Wise today announced the largest single gift in the institution's history. The $2.5 million anonymous gift will make possible the construction of a much-needed student center.

"The importance of the new student center cannot be overstated," said Chancellor George E. Culbertson. "Not only will it be the center of the campus physically, it will also serve as the very center and heart of our academic community."

Planning for the student center has been ongoing since 1995. Today's gift enables the College to construct the entire project, as originally conceived. Without the gift, the student center would have been scaled back to 75 percent of its planned size - initially eliminating the recreational wing - and constructed in two phases. Because state money can be used only for the construction of academic buildings, additional student fees would have been needed to complete the project. Without this gift, every UVa-Wise student for the next twenty years would have paid an additional $200 in student fees to fully fund the project.

"Our donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has stated to us that it is an honor to be a part of the continued growth and development of an institution whose mission is so vital to the future of our region," Culbertson said. "And we, in turn, are honored to have the faith and trust of this donor to use it wisely for the benefit of the many students who will grace our campus in the coming years. It is an affirmation of where we have been, what we are now and, most importantly, what we aspire to be."

Construction of the $10 million student center will begin May 28. VMDO Architects of Charlottesville designed the structure. Powell Construction Company, headquartered in Nashville with a local office in Johnson City, Tenn., will build the facility, which will be completed in about 18 months.

Designed to reflect the architectural style of the College's two original stone structures, the student center will become the center of campus activity. The structure will feature a café, three racquetball courts, aerobic space, an exercise and weight room, a new post office, a student lounge with a fireplace, a 300-seat conference center with a platform stage, a campus store three times larger than the current facility, a student leadership suite and other student offices, and a four-story atrium.

The total square footage of the student center is 46,234 square feet, divided as follows:

First Floor: 12,068 Square Feet

- Information/receptionist area
- College store
- Vending machine alcove
- Three racquetball courts
- Locker rooms for men and women
- Forum/atrium with ceiling soaring four floors

Second Floor: 5,677 Square Feet
- Gameroom
- Text book stacks for college store
- Opens to racquetball courts with viewing area for spectators
- Mezzanine looks over forum/atrium

Third Floor: 12,638 Square Feet
- Honor Court offices and conference room
- Offices for the student newspaper and yearbook
- Office space for the Director of Intramurals & Student Activities
- Aerobic space with special flooring
- Exercise/Weight room
- Student Leadership Suite with Offices for Student Government Association and workspaces for other clubs and activities

Fourth Floor: 7,924 Square Feet
- Café with seating around mezzanine
- Post Office with boxes for all students, including commuter students
- Student Lounge with fireplace
- Exits to Upper Campus

Fifth Floor: 7,927 Square Feet
- Conference Center with platform stage and seating for 300
- Catering kitchen
- Two meeting rooms with moveable wall for expansion to larger space

The student center gift brings the final total for the College's first-ever campaign to $21.3 million, more than $8 million ahead of the original goal. More than 3,600 donors contributed during the five-year campaign.

Pictured above is an architectural model of the new UVa-Wise student center.