Earlier this summer, a steam line underneath Willard Hall ruptured, resulting in significant damage to the building. The damage from the rupture was extensive enough that the residence hall had to be closed immediately. That situation has accelerated the University’s move to take Willard, one of two original buildings on campus, offline for construction, originally slated to begin a year from now.
The Office of Residence Life and Housing is in the process of accommodating those students who were assigned to live in Willard Hall in the upcoming academic year. The majority will be housed in Bushnell Hall, which had been slated for closure in the 2017-2018 session in order to allow for some minor renovations and upgrades. The UMW facilities staff has shifted its priorities and is making necessary enhancements to provide space in Bushnell for students displaced from Willard. In addition, some other available rooms in Virginia Hall and elsewhere on campus will provide additional spaces for intended Willard residents.