At almost any time of day or night, the new Westover Hall is a study hall, a social hub, and a home.
“My favorite part about the community is the resources we have access to on the floor,” Sloane Kelly ’22 said. “The lounge, kitchen, and conference room always have groups of residents studying in them, or friends gathering to watch TV and movies together.”
Students moved into the new residence hall in September 2019. The building was dedicated in October, when the board of trustees named it after the University’s first building.
Westover Hall is the first major building project growing out of Vision 2020, the University of Lynchburg’s strategic plan. It offers semi-suite living spaces, giving students more privacy and independence.
It’s also home to Westover Honors College, housing faculty offices, classrooms, and a living-learning community where sophomore Westover Honors students can live together.
“I like living on the Westover floor because I’m surrounded by my friends and people who are similarly motivated as I am,” Jena Wilkinson ’22 said. “It also really helps to live with the people I have class with; I can just step outside my door and find my classmates, making it really easy to work on group assignments or do homework together.”
Westover Hall also includes another small living-learning community focused on exploring mindfulness and spirituality.
The nearly 90,000 square-foot building was designed with flexible space that can be used for studying, academics, or socializing. The lounges and balconies facing Shellenberger Field are popular spots. Fortunately, finding a quiet place to study is not a problem for Westover residents.
“I definitely think the lounges have made finishing my work easier and less stressful, especially if I’m working late into the night,” Mollie Hubble ’22, a resident of Westover, said. “The new building has definitely improved my study habits and improved my academic experience here at Lynchburg.”
In only its first semester on campus, Westover Hall has already enriched students’ experiences, making the University of Lynchburg feel more like home.
Hannah Belayachi ’22 is a Westover Honors College fellow and a resident of the new Westover Hall.
