Washington and Lee to brief planning commission on Founders Hall, museum and housing; presentation scheduled after Oct. 9

LEXINGTON, Va. — City planning staff said Sept. 11 that Washington and Lee University will present a package of capital projects and proposed campus master‑plan amendments to the Lexington Planning Commission, including a larger Founders Hall, an institutional history museum, new student housing and an addition to Wilson Hall.

Planning staff asked the commission for a pre‑application briefing opportunity so commissioners and the public can review project concepts before formal applications. Staff indicated the briefing will likely be scheduled after Oct. 9.

Why it matters: the projects include requests that could require campus master‑plan amendments and changes to dimensional standards, including a request to allow Founders Hall up to about 50 feet in height and a proposed reduction of a previously noted 34‑foot setback to roughly 21 feet along Washington Street. The projects could also affect parking and infrastructure planning in areas near Lee and Jefferson streets.

Details mentioned at the meeting

- Founders Hall: staff said the university is pursuing Founders Hall as a larger building and has asked for additional height up to 50 feet. Staff described the request as part of the next round of capital projects and said it will present the concept to commission members prior to formal master‑plan amendments.

- Institutional history museum: staff said the university is exploring a site in the parking area off Fletcher/Jefferson and that planning work is underway on design concepts.

- Student housing: staff said the university is planning limited new student housing, on the order of roughly 100 to 170 beds, in locations already shown as placeholders on the campus master plan.

- Wilson Hall addition: staff said the university proposes a rear addition to Wilson Hall toward McLaughlin, and that portions of any addition could be in floodplain areas; staff noted that construction in flood zones is possible but requires further review.

Staff action and timeline

Planning staff said they will invite Washington and Lee to present the projects to the commission and the public so commissioners can provide early feedback. The staff report indicated that the university wanted initial input on massing, setbacks and parking strategy before filing formal applications and master‑plan amendment requests. "Their next project is going to be the early filling building, the removal of that, and coming with Founders Hall," staff said; "Founders Hall is a larger building. They asked for additional height up to 50 feet."

The commission instructed staff to schedule a briefing and the staff said it will aim for a date after Oct. 9 so the materials can be developed and shared with commissioners in advance.

No formal action was taken Sept. 11; the item was presented as an informational update and scheduling request.