Duke Hall, a building project that will serve both Randolph-Macon College’s long-standing tradition of athletic excellence and its new venture into graduate studies, is set to begin this summer.

Earlier this spring, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved the construction of a 45,000-square-foot building adjacent to Day Field. The planned three-story building will meet a number of key needs for RMC’s athletic community. The floor plan accommodates new locker rooms for women’s soccer, women’s lacrosse, field hockey, softball, as well as baseball and football. In addition, the first floor of Duke Hall will accommodate a second training room. The upper stories, overlooking Day Field, will have coaches’ offices for men’s and women’s sports, conference and meeting rooms, a football suite, a new press box, and an event space for small gatherings.

“The continuing improvement and transformation of Randolph-Macon’s athletic facilities are a testament to the integral role athletics plays in the College’s overall mission to educate and develop the whole student,” said Randolph-Macon’s Athletic Director, Jeff Burns ‘87.  “Duke Hall and the new turf field for field hockey and soccer (Nunnally Field), along with plans to build a new softball stadium and to renovate Crenshaw Gym will better enable RMC to attract, retain, and graduate top-quality, well-rounded student-athletes.”

The building will also house a fully-dedicated floor for Randolph-Macon’s Physician Assistant (PA) graduate studies program, which will begin accepting applications for its first cohort in April 2022. This exciting addition to the academic landscape at RMC meets a growing need for healthcare providers who can fill gaps in our medical system. Physician Assistant was recently ranked #1 in “Best 100 Jobs” and “Best Healthcare Jobs” by U.S. News and World Report. Under the leadership of founding director Erich Grant, the PA program will begin in January 2023.

The central spaces in the building will also house three large new classrooms for general academic use.

“It is rare to be able to meet so many needs with a single building,” remarked President Robert R. Lindgren. “I am exceptionally pleased with the creative and thoughtful use of space and all that it means for our future.” 

The overall cost of Duke Hall is $13.5 million. All but $5.5 million has been committed thanks in large part to the generosity of many, including these lead donors: the Estate of Harold Duke, the Brock Venture Fund created by the late Macon F. Brock, Jr. ’64 and his wife, Joan; the late Stuart Laughon, widow of Frank E. “Pepper” Laughon, Jr. ’59; Jack and Shearer Luck ’64; and Jeff and Michelle Neville. The building is named for Harold Duke, who was a lifelong resident of Ashland and the owner of Duke’s Market, a community staple until it closed in 2001. Duke, who died in 2017 at age 86, was an honorary RMC alumnus, loyal and enthusiastic Yellow Jacket fan, and a generous member of the Yellow Jacket Club. He left the majority of his estate to the College. The hall that bears his name is expected to be completed in the fall of 2022.