Washington and Lee University has announced a $30 million anonymous gift to create Founders Hall, a new state-of-the-art building that will bring together the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid and the Johnson Program in Leadership and Integrity.
Designed to offer an inviting and strategically located gateway to campus, the facility will enhance student recruitment, help families understand W&L’s exceptional financial aid programs and serve as a hub for university events and conferences.
The gift includes a $10 million challenge intended to inspire others to support the project.
“Founders Hall will symbolize access to a Washington and Lee education, offering a space as welcoming and intentional as the community it introduces. Every journey at W&L begins with a sense of possibility. Founders Hall will give that feeling a home, creating a space where our values are put into practice — where access, integrity and opportunity shape the first moments of a lifelong connection. With matching support from the W&L community, we will create not just a building but an invitation to join a community defined by purpose,” W&L Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid Sally Stone Richmond said.
Founders Hall will be built on the corner of Washington Street and Lee Avenue, and replace the Early-Fielding building. The 28,600-square-foot structure will feature a welcoming lobby, an outdoor patio and space for events and information sessions that help prospective students understand the benefits of attending Washington and Lee. Designed in the brick classical revival style consistent with the historic front campus, the building will also connect to Evans Hall to provide access to large event spaces and food service.
The project also addresses long-standing space and accessibility challenges in the university’s current admissions and financial aid offices.
“Admissions is often the first point of contact for prospective students and families, and financial aid is often a critical factor in their decision-making process. It’s essential that we make that experience as seamless, informative and inspiring as possible. Locating both offices in Founders Hall at the gateway to campus will help us do just that,” Richmond said.
In addition to uniting critical student-facing offices, the new facility will also fill a long-standing need for flexible event space on campus. Founders Hall will support small conferences, alumni programs and major university events such as Johnson Scholarship Selection Weekend, Admitted Students Day, the Entrepreneurship Summit, Alumni College lectures and the Institute for Honor Symposium.
The portion of the building facing Washington Street will house Admissions, Financial Aid and the Johnson Program, while the section along Lee Avenue will support meetings and conferences. The proximity of Founders Hall to the new Williams School building and Evans Hall will offer opportunities for collaborative programming and events that benefit students, faculty, alumni and guests.
“This important new facility will make a first impression on prospective students and families that reflects the excellence of our academic and campus experience. Founders Hall is where students with extraordinary potential will begin their W&L journeys, which prepare them for impactful lives of leadership and service. The donor’s generosity reflects a deep belief in our commitments to educational excellence and to helping young people learn to conduct themselves with honor, integrity and civility. It will help us attract the strongest students who are drawn to Washington and Lee’s distinctive opportunities and values for generations to come,” Washington and Lee President Will Dudley said.
Leading Lives of Consequence: The Campaign for Washington and Lee is the most ambitious comprehensive campaign in the university’s history, with a goal of $650 million. Launched publicly in October 2024, the campaign funds initiatives that support every aspect of the university’s mission, from financial aid and faculty support to curricular innovation, athletics and facilities.
“Founders Hall advances several of the campaign’s top priorities. By bringing our Admissions, Financial Aid and Johnson Program under one roof, we will be well-positioned to attract outstanding students and demonstrate how affordable W&L can be, thanks to our generous financial aid. At the same time, it will enhance our campus infrastructure to support important university programs and nurture the personal and professional connections that define the W&L community,” Susan Wood, vice president of university advancement said.
Supporters inspired by the challenge gift can take part in building a lasting legacy at W&L. More information about the Leading Lives of Consequence campaign is available online.
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Rebecca Barnabi
