In a powerful show of progress, the final interior beam of the new McConnon Discovery Center was set in place Wednesday, July 23, bringing the transformative project one step closer to completion.
The raising of the last beam is a major milestone signaling that the imposing steel skeleton of the new 32,000-square-foot building has been successfully finished. Construction crews will now move ahead with building out the walls and interior rooms of the 21st century learning space.
The project is on track to meet its opening date of fall 2026. This is the first and most intensive phase of the three-part plan to reimagine STEM learning at Roanoke College and create a state-of-the-art hub that will support advanced research and house one-third of all campus courses.
"This is just the beginning," President Frank Shushok Jr. said during Wednesday’s topping out ceremony, a tradition in the construction industry that celebrates the raising of a project’s final beam. "There's no better place to be than right here at a college working with the people who are going to lead our future. This building is where that's going to happen."
"Thank you to everyone for using your gifts and talents to help Roanoke College help young people build a dream for themselves and make a difference," he said. "This is how good gets loose in the world."
The ceremony brought together the campus community and the hard-working team at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company to mark the occasion and cheer as the beam was hoisted up. In keeping with a time-honored tradition among builders, an evergreen tree was placed on the beam as it rose through the air, a talisman some believe symbolizes good fortune and prosperity for the building.
The final beam was inscribed with the names of 1,057 benefactors who made the project possible. The McConnon Discovery Center is a $60 million project that is reshaping the west end of campus, long home to Massengill Auditorium, Trexler Hall and Life Science. The project is named in honor of alumnus and cybersecurity expert Shaun McConnon ’66, who made an unprecedented gift to support the work and create more opportunities for future Maroons.
Since the start of construction this spring, Massengill Auditorium has been razed to give rise to a new four-story building that will be outfitted with eight teaching labs, classroom space, and flexible collaboration and creation spaces.
The facility also will have a rooftop terrace and meeting space, a plaza entrance facing Market Street, and walkways connecting each floor of all three science buildings. In future phases, Trexler Hall and Life Science will undergo renovations. Life Science also will be renamed in memory of Professor Emeritus Bob Jenkins ’61, a renowned biologist and ichthyologist.
The new building under construction now is set to open to students in fall 2026. Once complete, the full discovery center will house several of Roanoke College’s most popular majors and more than half of all student research projects. All students will benefit from the leading-edge facilities as all take some level of science and math courses as part of their comprehensive education.
In offering a blessing Wednesday, Chaplain Chris Bowen invoked the words of Martin Luther, who urged people to use their minds to explore and understand the world.
"May this center be a new place at dear old Roanoke where curiosity is honored, truth is pursued, and lives are transformed," he said.
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Placing an evergreen tree on the final beam is a time-honored tradition among builders that some believe symbolizes good fortune and prosperity for the building.
"This is just the beginning," President Frank Shushok Jr. said during Wednesday’s topping out ceremony, a tradition in the construction industry that celebrates the raising of a project’s last beam.
"May this center be a new place at dear old Roanoke where curiosity is honored, truth is pursued, and lives are transformed," Chaplain Chris Bowen said in his blessing.
Names of benefactors who made the project possible were handwritten on the final beam during an advance event held July 16.
Retired professor Ron Oetgen (left) signs his name on the final beam on July 16 while Assistant Director of Engagement for Alumni Relations Jakob Chandler '22 writes additional names of donors who were unable to attend the event.
Dr. Ken Garren '62 and his wife, Sheila Garren, prepare to sign the final beam of the discovery center during an event held July 16. Dr. Garren is a former vice president and dean of Roanoke College as well as president emeritus of the University of Lynchburg.
In total, support from 1,057 donors made the state-of-the-art discovery center a reality, expanding opportunities for a new generation of students.
Vice President for Business Affairs David Mowen (left) and Associate Vice President of Facilities Management Ben Irvin '94 gave the order to the crane to lift the final beam.
Placing the last beam is a major milestone in construction that marks the momentous progress made since a project's beginning.
Wednesday's ceremony brought together the campus community and the hard-working team at The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company to celebrate the occasion.
With a big smile, a crew member of The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company signals that the beam installation was a success.