Named after Roy Jay Holden, former Virginia Tech Professor of Geology and Geology Department Head in 1949, Holden Hall is home to the Mining and Minerals Engineering and the Materials Science and Engineering programs. The expansion and renovations provide 102,800 SF of unique and innovative spaces for undergraduate and graduate student teaching, learning, and research.
The reimagined facility enhances experiential learning, boosts recruiting opportunities for the University, and promotes transdisciplinary research across mining and minerals engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer modeling, and data analytics programs.
The most impressive space in the facility is the cutting-edge Center for Autonomous Mining and Robotics. This venue allows students to engage in autonomous mining and work with natural materials that are three-to-four feet deep. The 2-story mock mine includes a large projection screen to simulate the mining environment for different locales. A second-story control room looks down into the mine and allows operators to control cameras for recording activities, such as “Battlebots” races to mine different materials such as rocks, sand, etc. Partially funded by NASA, the mock mine helps with the development of robotic mining equipment used for terrestrial and extraterrestrial mining.
Other spaces include multiple technology-enhanced active learning classrooms, three 50-seat classrooms, seminar rooms, teaching laboratories, rooftop terrace, outdoor learning theatre, administrative space, faculty offices, and formal and informal huddle spaces. A Co-lab with a large interactive visualization wall is used for collaboration and presentation.
