Quillen Spirit Plaza and Dietrick Hall Renovations

About the project

The Quillen Spirit Plaza is located in the area outside Dietrick Hall that faces Washington Street. It transforms and modernizes a central campus gathering place that connects residential spaces to Athletics via Dietrick Lawn. The plaza is a location for special events, including potential pep rallies, and continues to be an integral part of everyday living, learning, and socializing on campus. 

The renovations expand the available usable space, infuse more elements that build on the school spirit atmosphere, and help foster social interaction and collaboration. Original ideas included incorporating more brand elements throughout the plaza; building stadium seat walls; incorporating new accessible pathways, seating, a sloped lawn, landscape beds, outdoor seating, and tables; and adding a HokieBird statue for photo opportunities. 

The Quillen Spirit Plaza is part of a larger renovation project to Dietrick Hall that included a variety of interior improvements – a new Urban Market dining venue, upgrades to Deet’s and DXpress, and enclosing the first-floor overhang to capture nearly 200 additional seats.

The Quillen Spirit Plaza was made possible by a $2 million gift from three siblings of the Quillen family: Chris Quillen ’98 and his wife Jennifer, Hunter Quillen Gresham, and Matt Quillen '06 and his wife Kelsey. The gift is one of the largest gifts in the history of Student Affairs. 

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