Virginia Peninsula Community College will close a chapter in its 58-year history when the demolition of three landmark Hampton Campus buildings begins this month.
Having served students, faculty and staff for decades, Diggs, Harrison and Moore halls are being leveled to make way for the construction of an academic and administrative building, ushering in an exciting new era at VPCC. The $499,294 demolition project is funded by the state.
The original cornerstone of Diggs, Moore and Harrison halls, which are connected, was officially transferred Tuesday, Oct. 14. Boots Feather, owner and president of Demolition Services, Inc., which is doing the work, handed over ownership of the cornerstone and the paperwork to John Mason, director of Facilities, Planning and Capital Outlay at VPCC.
That cornerstone probably will be part of the new building, and design plans for the new facility might include honoring all three halls.
The decision to demolish the buildings comes after a comprehensive evaluation of the aging structures. The historic buildings constructed in 1967 no longer meet modern standards for accessibility, energy efficiency, educational utility and other key areas. Their replacement, also funded by the state, will consolidate functions currently spread across the campus into one facility better suited for today’s learning and administrative needs.
Covering a combined 58,000 square feet, according to College archives, Diggs, Harrison and Moore halls housed classrooms, offices, computer labs, a multi-purpose conference room, two boardrooms (one in Harrison, one in Moore), campus police operations and more. The well-used buildings were closed in phases about two years ago.
“Asbestos remediation is in progress and building demolition will begin (soon), and that phase is scheduled to last until December,” stated Mason, adding work is progressing on time and on budget with the overall demolition project expected to last through Feb. 3, 2026.
Demolition of the three buildings will not involve implosion or the use of a wrecking ball. Rather, they will be knocked down piece by piece using a backhoe.
Under the current schedule, officials plan to issue construction bids for the new building in early 2026, with construction starting in fall 2026. Completion of the estimated $45 million project is expected in late 2028.
Conceptual designs for the new building were unveiled by the Chesapeake-based firm RRMM Architects during a VPCC College Board meeting in December 2018.
The proposed three-story building, described by RRMM reps as “a gateway to the campus,” will face Interstate 64 for greater visibility and offer 75,000 square feet of space for classrooms, administrative offices, a cybersecurity suite and more.
Photos from the Past: Diggs, Moore, and Harrison Halls
