Update: 9 a.m., Jan. 17

Necessary repairs to a gas main on campus are complete.

Heating capability has been fully restored in all buildings impacted.  Full restoration of domestic hot water, fuel back-up generators, and other ancillary gas services in those buildings affected is underway.  All impacted gas services should be restored by close of business today, Jan. 17.

Please contact the Virginia Tech Facilities Department at 540-231-4300 to report any additional issues.

UPDATE: 11 a.m.

Necessary repairs to a gas main on campus will continue throughout the day on Thursday, Jan. 16.

Several campus buildings will likely experience a loss of natural gas service due to this repair work. Natural gas in buildings is typically used to provide domestic hot water, fuel back-up generators, and in select buildings, heating capability. The duration of the shutdown will be determined by progress of repairs and will be communicated accordingly on the Virginia Tech Status Page.

Heating capability will likely be impacted in the following campus buildings throughout the day on Jan. 16:

  • Henderson Hall 
  • Infectious Disease Research Facility
  • Solitude
  • Surge Space Building
  • University Greenhouses

Domestic hot water, fuel back-up generators, and other ancillary gas services will likely be impacted in the following campus buildings on Jan. 16:

  • Ambler Johnston Hall
  • Barringer Hall
  • Burruss Hall
  • Cheatham Hall
  • Cochrane Hall
  • Cowgill Hall
  • Davidson Hall
  • Derring Hall
  • Dietrick Hall
  • Dry Rendering Facility
  • Durham Hall
  • Ecosystems Simulation Lab
  • Eggleston Hall
  • Food Science and Technology Building
  • Fralin Hall
  • Graduate Life Center
  • Hahn Hall North
  • Hahn Hall South
  • Hahn Hurst Basketball Facility
  • Hancock Hall
  • Harper Hall
  • Henderson Hall
  • Hillcrest Hall
  • Human and Agricultural Biosciences Building I
  • Infectious Disease Research Facility
  • Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS II)
  • Johnson Hall
  • Latham Hall
  • Life Sciences I Facility
  • Litton-Reaves Hall
  • McComas Hall
  • Miles Hall
  • Moss Arts Center
  • New Hall West
  • Owens Hall
  • Perry Street Parking Deck
  • Shanks Hall
  • Slusher Hall
  • Smith Career Center (Career and Professional Development)
  • Solitude
  • Squires Student Center
  • Steger Hall
  • Surge Space Building
  • The Grove
  • University Greenhouses
  • Vawter Hall
  • Wallace Hall

Please contact the Virginia Tech Facilities Department at 540-231-4300 to report any additional issues.

10:37 p.m.

As repairs continue through the Jan. 15 evening hours, impacts to domestic hot water, natural gas-powered generators, and other select natural gas-related services may be experienced campus-wide into the morning of Thursday, Jan. 16.

Heating capability may be impacted in the following campus buildings:

  • Henderson Hall
  • Infectious Disease Research Facility (College of Veterinary Medicine)
  • Solitude
  • Surge Space Building
  • University Greenhouses

Please contact the Virginia Tech Facilities Department at 540-231-4300 to report any additional issues.

2:10 p.m.

Gas crews have closed the leak. Air handlers within the evacuated buildings will be activated to circulate air. That process will take a few hours.  Additional readings will be taken to ensure gas levels are within safe limits. Buildings that had been closed should be reopened after 4 p.m. today. Parking lots will reopen.

If personal belongings were left in the building as part of the evacuation, please return to Old Turner Street to meet with first responders to be escorted into your building.

1:01 p.m.

Crews are monitoring gas levels across campus. Currently, levels remain within safe limits. 

11:44 a.m.

Crews continue to work. North End Center has been evacuated as a precaution. Continue to avoid the area.

These buildings have been evacuated.

  • Art and Design Building
  • Durham Hall
  • Femoyer Hall
  • Kelly Hall
  • Liberal Arts Building
  • Major Williams Hall
  • McBryde Hall
  • Military Building
  • North End Center
  • Old Security Building
  • Performing Arts Building
  • Shanks Hall
  • Surge Building

11:20 a.m.

In precaution, the Virginia Tech Facilities Department has turned off air handling equipment within the list of buildings that have been evacuated.

Update: 10:41 a.m.

On the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 15, a gas line was struck during construction in the vicinity of the Virginia Tech power plant. Crews are currently on site to repair the leak.

A VT Alert was deployed at 10 a.m. to the Blacksburg university community alerting of the leak. Out of an abundance of caution, buildings in the surrounding area were evacuated, including:

  • Art and Design Building
  • Durham Hall
  • Femoyer Hall
  • Kelly Hall
  • Liberal Arts Building
  • Major Williams Hall
  • McBryde Hall
  • Military Building
  • North End Center
  • Old Security Building
  • Performing Arts Building
  • Shanks Hall
  • Surge Building

In addition, Barger and Stanger Streets are currently closed to accommodate the response.

Posted: 10:20 a.m.

A gas leak has been reported at the intersection of Barger and Stanger Streets near Kelly Hall on the Blacksburg campus. Those on the Blacksburg campus are advised to avoid the area. If you are in the vicinity of Kelly Hall, follow the instructions of first responders.

More updates will be posted as they become available.

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