Returning to College: R-MC Grads Christen New Dorm

Rev. Ira L. Andrews III '59 and Frank E. "Pepper" Laughon '59 were first to spend the night in Andrews Hall on August 11, 2011. Click on photo gallery to see images of their arrival.

Watch a video of Rev. Ira L. Andrews and Frank E. "Pepper" Laughon discussing Andrews Hall

Randolph-Macon College’s newly constructed Andrews Hall is home to 104 freshmen, but on Friday, August 11, 2011 only two special guests were assigned rooms. R-MC alumni Rev. Ira L. Andrews III ’59 and Frank E. “Pepper” Laughon ’59 were the first occupants to spend the night in this new freshmen residence hall.

“Pepper and I were so excited to be the first people to spend the night in Andrews Hall,” said Andrews. “This beautiful, state-of-the-art, ‘green’ residence hall gives witness to R-MC’s deep commitment to create and maintain an excellent educational environment for its students as they prepare for leadership roles in the 21st century.”

Andrews Hall was named to honor the retired R-MC Dean of Students and former religious studies Professor Emeritus Andrews for his 50-plus years of service and dedication to R-MC. Construction of the Hall was made possible with a lead gift from Laughon and his wife Stuart. Andrews and Laughon were hallmates at Randolph-Macon College in the 1950s and have remained close friends over the years.
 
The two former classmates spent part of the evening in the new hall reminiscing.  “It was great to be able to ‘break in’ Andrews Hall with my dear friend,” said Laughon. “The residence halls today are nothing like they were when Ira and I were students. We had very small rooms and the bathrooms were at the end of the hall.”

Andrews added, “It was fun to get Pepper here to remember the fun that transpired all those years ago when we lived on the same hall.  It feels good to know that R-MC is still a close-knit community, where students get one-on-one attention from faculty and staff. And, this continues to be a place where they make lifelong friends."

Freshmen students officially moved into Andrews Hall on August 31. The facility includes a 1,500-square-foot common room for academic and student organization use; study areas; social areas; a gaming/TV room; a laundry facility; a staff apartment; and a community porch. Four upperclassmen resident assistants will also live in Andrews Hall. This is the first newly constructed building on campus since 1997 and the first significant student-housing facility constructed since 1972.

“This is an exciting time of growth for Randolph-Macon College,” said President Robert R. Lindgren. “We are preparing to enroll the largest incoming freshmen class in R-MC history. Andrews Hall will fill the demand we have for residential living space. Our Board of Trustees predicted this type of growth, and two years ago approved a Master Plan intended to take the college well into the next 20 to 30 years. The plan suggests the best use of the college’s land and facility resources.”

Andrews Hall is well on track for LEED Silver certification with the potential of receiving Gold certification. LEED, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally-recognized “green building” certification system to promote sustainable building and development practices. The Hall also includes other environmental features such as geo-thermal wells to collect and temper ground water for the heating and ventilating system, and a system to collect and recycle rain water for toilets and irrigation. In addition, solar panels are installed on the eastern side of the building roof to help with the cost of electricity.

Ira L. Andrews III ’59
Ira L. Andrews’ collective experience at R-MC spans more than 50 years. As a student, he was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society and was a member of Clericus, a pre-ministerial program, and the Glee Club. After graduating, Andrews earned a master of divinity degree from Emory University, where he was elected to Omicron Delta Kappa. He returned to R-MC as a professor of religious studies and was later appointed to serve as dean of students. He worked admirably through historic milestones such as the college’s change from an all-male campus to a co-educational one, and served under five presidents. He is also an ordained Methodist minister.

Pepper ’59 and Stuart Laughon
Pepper Laughon is the chairman emeritus and CEO of Richmond Cold Storage, a company that operates refrigerated and dry-storage warehouses along the Mid-Atlantic States. He is also founder and president of Flare Corporation, an international consulting firm for refrigerated warehousing and distribution.

Laughon and his wife Stuart have been actively engaged with Randolph-Macon for many years. He serves on the Board of Trustees, the Student Affairs Committee, the Athletic Committee, and is chair of the Greek Alumni Advisory Board. In 2003, the Laughons established the Pepper and Stuart Laughon Commitment to Community Award, which is presented annually to an R-MC student organization or individual making significant contributions to enrich the lives of others. In 2007, Laughon received the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Building Extraordinary: The Campaign for Randolph-Macon College
Randolph-Macon College kicked off the $100 million dollar capital campaign, Building Extraordinary: The Campaign for Randolph-Macon College, in April 2011. The campaign launched with an astounding $67 million in gifts already committed and is designed to position the college for the next level of excellence. The goals for the campaign are set forth by the college’s strategic and master plans. Priorities for the campaign include upgrading and building state-of-the-art facilities, increasing the endowment to provide greater opportunities and support for faculty and students in and out of the classroom, and enhancing student outcomes through career and graduate school preparation.

Andrews Hall is part of Phase One of the R-MC Master Plan, which also included a new tennis complex and baseball stadium, Hugh Stephens Field at Estes Park . In December 2011, R-MC will break ground on an addition to the McGraw-Page Library that will include a 24-hour study area, restrooms and wireless Internet. Phase One construction also includes a renovation and expansion of the Brown Campus Center, a redesign of the soccer fields, and a new senior residence hall that is expected to be completed by August 2013.

For more information about Andrews Hall or Building Extraordinary, please contact Pam Harris Cox at 752-3712, pamelacox@rmc.edu or Anne Marie Lauranzon at 804-752-7317, alauranz@rmc.edu.