Shepherd University begins construction on dining hall and multipurpose building
A ground breaking celebration was held on May 14 to commemorate the occasion. The new building will be located on West Campus near residence halls to improve student access to dining options.
Shepherd University recently broke ground on its new dining hall and multipurpose building located on West Campus. The building will house offices, locker rooms, weight rooms, kitchens, and dining areas. The new building joins a slew of other campus improvement projects, such as residence hall renovations and the construction of a new campus maintenance facility.
According to an article on Shepherd University’s website, Dr. Mary J.C. Hendrix, the university’s president, was quoted as saying at the ground breaking, “We are profoundly grateful for the support of our state and national representatives and their confidence in Shepherd to continue preparing the next generation of leaders and model citizens for success — here in the Eastern Panhandle, across West Virginia, and around the country. I am most appreciative for the efforts by [U.S.] Senator Jim Justice, [former] WV Senate President Craig Blair, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, and Congressman Riley Moore, who worked with Shepherd University representatives to identify and secure this critical funding.” Hendrix added, “This new facility is part of our strategic plan to continue investing and improving our facilities to enhance the student experience and plant the seeds for the future of Shepherd University.”
The construction of the new building was made possible via $30 million from the West Virginia Legislature in 2024. The new building will be located in an area that is near the campus’ residence halls, and when the building is complete, it will serve as the main dining hall on campus. This brings together student residences and dining options to improve students’ access and experience on campus.
Speaking of the experience to bring this project to fruition, Eric Lewis, who serves as the chair of the West Campus Enhancement Task Force, was quoted as saying, “It’s been a lot of fun. We’re going to have the best possible building for the best dollar value that we can, because we did it as a design-build.”
The team working on the design and build of the new building comes from Bushey Feight Morin Architects and Waynesboro Construction.
Former West Virginia Senate President Craig Blair said at the ground breaking ceremony, “I want Shepherd University to continue to prioritize and invest in itself, to adapt and innovate.”
For more information about Shepherd University, visit the school’s website.