Christopher Newport Hall

Christopher Newport University,
Newport News, Virginia

CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT HALL anchors a primary axis of the campus and serves as the frontispiece on the Great Lawn at its eastern end. To spur the University’s mission of advancing student achievement, the new building provides facilities to support student services, including an Academic Success Center, Career Development offices, Office of Disability Resources, and additional student academic support space. Also included are the campus welcome center, Office of Admissions, and executive-level administrative offices.

The project employs a glass floor, which can be switched electrically from transparent to translucent for privacy. This fire-rated structural glass floor is one of the first installed in the United States. The building is capped with a dome and cupola roofed in copper sheet. Academic buildings and student walk paths bound the building site on three sides. The facility introduces the CNU Admissions tour groups to the Great Lawn via a monumental stair. Additionally, the building is planned and structured to receive an enclosed bridge connection to a future Library addition. Christopher Newport Hall is LEED Silver certified.