Virginia Tech 150th Anniversary Recognized At Innovation Campus

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As construction continues on Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus in Alexandria, officials celebrated the university's 150th anniversary last week.

A proclamation from the City of Alexandria was presented Wednesday to recognize Virginia Tech's anniversary. Mayor Justin Wilson and Vice Mayor Amy Jackson, the latter of whom is a Virginia Tech alumna, represented the city at the 150th anniversary commemoration.

Jackson presented the proclamation to Virginia Tech President Tim Sands and Innovation Campus Vice President and Executive Director Lance Collins as "an expression of the City of Alexandria’s admiration for the institution’s extraordinary history, unparalleled legacy of excellence, and invaluable contributions to the city, commonwealth, the nation, and the world."

Virginia Tech's 150th anniversary concludes on Dec. 14 with events held simultaneously in Roanoke and DC.

The next chapter in Virginia Tech history will include the anticipated fall 2024 opening of the first academic building at the Innovation Campus. The campus will educate graduate tech students, seeking to meet needs for the tech workforce in the region.

The Innovation Campus has enrolled students since 2020, temporarily operating instruction at its Falls Church campus while Innovation Campus construction continues. The campus headquarters opened in 2021 at 3000 Potomac Avenue in Alexandria.

The Innovation Campus with three academic buildings will be part of a mixed-use development spearheaded by developer JBG Smith. The first phase, approved by Alexandria City Council in 2020, includes one academic bulding as well as six commercial buildings with office, retail, and residential uses. However, Washington Business Journal reported in November that work on two residential buildings is delayed.

Once the campus fully opens, it is expected to draw 750 master’s degree students and 200 doctoral students. It will be near the new Potomac Yard Metro station, which will not open in 2022 but could open in 2023.