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Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University, also known as ODU, is a public, co-educational research university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, with two satellite campuses in the Hampton Roads area. It was established in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary and is now one of the largest universities in Virginia with an enrollment of 24,670 students for the 2014-2015 academic year. Its campus covers over 251 acres (1.02 km2) straddling the city neighborhoods of Larchmont, Highland Park, and Lambert's Point, approximately five miles (8.0 km) from Downtown Norfolk. Old Dominion University is classified as a Carnegie Doctoral, Higher Research Activity University. Old Dominion University provides nearly $2 billion annually to the regional economy. The university offers 168 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to over 24,000 students and is one of the nation's largest providers of online distance learning courses. Old Dominion University has approximately 124,000 alumni in all 50 states and 67 countries. Old Dominion University derives its name from one of Virginia's state nicknames, "The Old Dominion", given to the state by King Charles II of England for remaining loyal to the crown during the English Civil War. The foundations of Old Dominion University began in the minds of administrators and officials at the College of William and Mary in the first decades of the twentieth century. Notable among these men were Robert M. Hughes, a W&M Board of Visitors member from 1893–1917, and J.A.C. Chandler, the 18th president of that school. In 1924 after becoming the director of the William and Mary extension in Norfolk, Joseph Healy began organizing classes and finding locations for faculty and staff. He along with the collective efforts of Robert M. Hughes, Dr. J.A.C. Chandler, and A.H. Foreman, a two-year branch division was established on March 13, 1930. On September 12, 1930 the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary held their first class with 206 students (125 men and 81 women) in the old Larchmont School building which was an abandoned elementary school on Hampton Boulevard. On September 3, 1930 H. Edgar Timmerman becomes the Division's first director. "The Division," as it was affectionately called, which started out in the old Larchmont School building and allowed people with less means to attend a school of higher education for two years. Tuition for the first year was 50 USD. The following September, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, more commonly known as Virginia Tech, began offering classes at "The Division," expanding the number of courses taught. Old Dominion began educating teachers and engineers. Created in the first year of the Great Depression, the college benefited from federal funding as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. The Public Works Administration provided funds for the Administration Building, now Rollins Hall, and Foreman Field, named after A.H Foreman, an early proponent of the college. Lewis Warrington Webb first joined the faculty in 1932 as an instructor of engineering and would later be called "the Father of Old Dominion." After serving 10 years as an instructor at the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary, he was appointed Assistant Director in 1942. He also served as Director of the Defense and War Training Program at the college from 1940-1944. Through its defense and training classes, the Norfolk Division makes an invaluable contribution to the war effort. The program also allows the school to remain open during a period when most young men were serving their country. The program attracts many women, who learn aircraft repair, drafting and other war-related subjects. In 1946 Webb was appointed Director of the Norfolk Division. Dr. Webb's dream was to see the Norfolk Division become an independent institution. The two-year Norfolk Division rapidly evolved into a four-year institution, and he saw that dream fulfilled in 1962 when the Norfolk Division gained its independence from William and Mary. On February 16, 1962, the William and Mary system was dissolved under General Assembly legislation which was signed by Gov. Albertis S. Harrison. Later that year the Norfolk Division was renamed to the Old Dominion College. Dr. Webb served as the first President of Old Dominion College from 1962-1969. Frank Batten, who was the publisher of The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star and member of the Norfolk Division's advisory board was chosen as the first rector of Old Dominion College on May 27, 1962. He held the position of rector until 1970 and the College of Engineering was named in his honor in 2004. In 1964 the first students lived on campus in the first dormitories, Rodgers and Gresham hall which were names after members of the advisory board. In 1969 Old Dominion College transitioned to Old Dominion University under the leadership of President James L. Bugg, Jr. During Bugg's tenure the first doctoral programs were established along with a university-wide governance structure in which faculty, administrators and students were represented. Bugg also re-established the Army ROTC program that was originally created in 1948 but was abandoned because of the outbreak of the Korean War. In the 1970s, during the tenure of President Alfred B. Rollins Jr. Old Dominion began mutual partnerships between regional organizations such as NASA, the U.S. Navy, Eastern Virginia Medical School and Norfolk State University. This was a result of Dr. Rollins goal of becoming the leading educational institution in the Hampton Roads area. Under Rollins, the university expanded its state and private funding, improved student services and introduced an honors program along with many other improvements to the university. In 1971 the university established its own campus police force and hired several police officers to patrol the campus. 1977 the Virginia Campus Police Act was made into a law, the university helped train local and campus police officers and the campus police officers were given full police authority on and around the campus grounds. From these humble beginnings the college grew southward along Hampton Boulevard, turning an empty field into a sprawling campus. After completion at the Norfolk Division, students would move on to schools offering degrees or would seek careers locally. "The Division" began by educating teachers and engineers. In 1962, it became an autonomous four-year college under the name Old Dominion College. Considerable growth in enrollment, the expansion of research facilities and preparation for the addition of graduate programs led the board to seek and receive university status in 1969. Since this time, the university has continued to grow and now has an enrollment of over 24,000 students.

Norfolk Scope

Norfolk Scope is a cultural, entertainment, convention and sports complex at the northern perimeter of downtown Norfolk, Virginia, comprising an approximately 11,000 person arena, a 2,500-person theater known as Chrysler Hall, a 10,000 square foot exhibition hall and a 600 car parking garage. The arena was designed by Italian architect/engineer Pier Luigi Nervi in conjunction with the local firm of Williams and Tazewell, which designed the entire complex. Nervis design for the arenas reinforced concrete dome evolved from the PalaLottomatica and the much smaller Palazzetto dello Sport, which were built in the 1950s for the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Construction on Scope began in June 1968 and was completed in 1971 at a cost of $35 million. Federal funds covered $23 million of the cost, and when it opened formally on November 12, 1971, the structure was the second-largest public complex in Virginia, behind only the Pentagon. Featuring the worlds largest reinforced thinshell concrete dome, Scope won the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects Test of Time award in 2003. Wes Lewis, director of Old Dominion Universitys civil engineering technology program, called it "a beautiful marrying of art and engineering." Noted architectural critic James Howard Kunstler described the design as looking like "yesterdays tomorrow." The name "Scope", a contraction of kaleidoscope, emphasizes the venues re-configurability and while initially the name chosen for the entire complex, has come to refer primarily to the arena component. The facility logo, which features a multi-colored, abstracted kaleidoscope image, was designed by Raymond Loewys firm Loewy/Snaith of New York.

Bud Metheny Baseball Complex

The Bud Metheny Baseball Complex is a stadium on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Old Dominion Monarchs baseball team. The Monarchs are members of Conference USA. The ballpark has seating for 2,500 spectators in three sections of raised aluminum bleachers. The stadium complex also includes locker rooms, a concession stand, offices, four batting cages, a picnic area and a fully enclosed press box. The facility replaced the universitys football stadium, Foreman Field, as the home of the baseball team. The ballpark is named after former Old Dominion head basketball coach, baseball manager, and athletic director Bud Metheny. Metheny worked for the university from 1948 to 1980 after an eleven-year stint in the New York Yankees organization including a World Series championship in 1943. He compiled a record of 423 wins, 363 losses and 6 ties as manager of the Monarchs. Methenys jersey number, 3, has been retired by the university and is displayed on the right field wall of the stadium. The stadium opened for the 1983 baseball season, with the first game being a 7-2 Old Dominion win over Millersville University. The complex was not dedicated until April 25, 1984 with a game against the Virginia Tech Hokies. That nights crowd of 2,125 is the highest attendance in stadium history. The ballpark hosted the Sun Belt Conference Baseball Tournament in 1983, 1985, and 1987, and the Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Tournament in 1994. Old Dominion defended home field and won the 1985 Sun Belt and 1994 Colonial championships. The stadium has also hosted multiple Virginia district and state high school baseball tournaments. The Monarchs tied the NCAA record for double plays completed in a single game on May 14, 1985 with 7 during a home game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. There have been eight no-hitters pitched at the stadium, all completed by Monarch pitchers. As of the completion of the 2012 season, Old Dominion has a record of 600 wins and 280 losses at the Bud, for a winning percentage of .682. The stadium received a new video/LED scoreboard for the 2009 season as part of a partnership between Old Dominion and CBS Collegiate Sports Properties. Additionally, the facility also underwent an additional three million dollar renovation for the 2011 season that erected a batters backdrop in center field, locker room refurbishments and a beer garden. Renovations continued before the 2012 season included brick walls added down the foul lines, a clock above the scoreboard, and a custom outfield wall with images of former Monarchs who have played in the major leagues.

Norva Theatre

The NorVa is a performing theatre located in Norfolk, Virginia. The NorVa's name consists of an abbreviation relating to its location. The NorVa was the brainchild of local music venue entrepreneurs Bill Reid and Rick Mersel, who have also developed the NTelos Wireless Pavilion and have ties to the development of Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach. In 2014, the NorVa was acquired by Anschutz Entertainment Group. The original NorVa Theatre opened in 1917 as a 2000-seat Vaudeville theater then thrived as a premier movie theatre into the 1970s. The building served as home to the Downtown Athletic Club from 1980 until 1998 when it was renovated for its current use. The building is often noted by its patrons to be charming and aesthetically pleasing due to its rustic and old-style appearance. The NorVa features top-notch acoustics, acoustics provided by a state-of-the-art V-DOSC sound system and engineered acoustical padding throughout the walls. The NorVa's stage area also features extensive utilities and lighting for special effects. Many bands have regarded the NorVa as one of the best venues in the United States, due not only to its great sound and intimate setting, but also to its many backstage amenities. Layout The NorVa consists of a main dance floor and a wraparound balcony. There is special seating and a secluded lounge for those with a house VIP membership. While the dance floor is usually standing room only, there are tables on the second floor. Both floors have sizable bars with the option for an additional mini bar added on the dance floor. The venue offers a designated area for handicapped patrons. Smoking inside is not allowed in Virginia but there is a huge smoking courtyard accessible from inside the venue that also has a Tiki bar open when the weather warrants it. The Rock Shop is an isolated bar area near the front doors where patrons can step away from the concert without leaving the building. The venue is fairly open with a good view up to the five-foot-high stage, something normally reserved for much larger venues. There are also several TVs in the bar areas broadcasting a view of the stage. Backstage Perks The NorVa has earned a reputation for taking good care of its artists. The venue's backstage experience consists of In-house Catering, Dining Room lined with autographed drum heads and other memorabilia, Laundry Facilities, Recreation Room, Pool Table, Foosball, Ping Pong, Production Office, Multiple Dressing Rooms, Big Screen TVs, Leather Couches, Jacuzzi, Sauna, Indoor Basketball Court, and Massage Therapist available upon request. Transportation The NorVa faces MacArthur Center's north parking garage. Limited street parking is also available. Hampton Roads Transit's The Tide light rail's Monticello station is located less than a block away. Early Entry Program: The venue is supported by The FM Restaurant located at 320 Granby Street. NorVa patrons can enter through the restaurant 15 minutes prior to the front doors. Concert Venue History: 2000 Everything and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band was originally scheduled to open the venue April 17 James Brown performed the inaugural show. 2001 April 28 Prince sold out the venue in less than five minutes. 2002 The NorVa hosted the after party for the Larry Holmes-Butterbean fight, promoted by Daryl DeCroix and Frank Azzalina. It was Larry Holmes' last professional fight. 2003 The hard rock band Chevelle released a DVD entitled "Live from the NorVA." March 24 Queens of the Stoneage with Turbonegro April 18 Flaming Lips August 13 Snoop Dogg October 14 Justin Timberlake 2004 April 6 Bob Dylan September 27 Wilco 2008 March 19 Willie Nelson The NorVa was named one of the top five rock venues by Rolling Stone Magazine. 2010 April 27 Phoenix 2012 September 14 Kendrick Lamar 2013 The NorVa ranks #16 in Rolling Stone's Best Big Rooms in America list. NorVa picked best venue by Rolling Stone readers The NorVa was the recipient of the Best Major Music Venue award in the 2013 VEER Music Awards. 2014 September 24 The NorVa was purchased in a $5.9 million deal by AEG Live. The National Theatre, The NorVa's sister venue, was also purchased in October.

Wells Theatre

The Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. It has housed the Virginia Stage Company since 1979. The Wells Theatre is owned and operated by the City of Norfolk and is part of The Seven Venues. The theatre opened on August 26, 1913 with a production of The Merry Countess, a Schubert musical. In 1916 Jake Wells installed a movie screen and projector, although theatrical bookings continued to occupy most of the theatre’s schedule. Many of America’s leading performers appeared at the Wells, among them John Drew, Maude Adams, Otis Skinner, John Philip Sousa, Billie Burke, Fred and Adele Astaire and Will Rogers. Throughout the Great Depression, the Wells continued to stage vaudeville shows and movies. Burlesque was added to the theatre’s repertoire around the beginning of World War II, which provided a steady source of income by attracting thousands of sailors stationed in Norfolk. Throughout the 1940s and 50s the theatre continued to operate as a movie house also. In the 1960s the Wells shared in the general decline of downtown Norfolk by converting to an X-rated movie house and occasionally staged live burlesque shows. The backstage area became the Jamaican Room, one of Norfolk’s infamous gin mills and brothels. The poured-in-place, steel-reinforced concrete structure was technologically advanced for the period. The New Wells' ornate decoration made the theatre the flagship of Wells Amusement Enterprises, and continues today as a well-preserved example of Beaux-Arts neoclassicism. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The theatre originally had 1,650 seats with 12 boxes and three balconies. The top balcony served as a segregated balcony "For Negro Audiences Only," and with had its own entrance and box office. A system of stairs made inside access easy, allowing waiters from Wong Ping's Chinese Restaurant to serve theatre patrons on the second floor roof garden before and after performances. The downstairs Trustees Lobby facing Tazewell Street housed Doumar's Cones and BBQ's first location in Norfolk. The brothers would eventually operate 42 theatres in nine states. In Norfolk, Wells operated The Granby, Academy, Colonial, Norva Theatre, Strand, New Wells and the American Theatre. Otto managed their entire theatrical enterprise from Norfolk with multiple ticker-tape machines that allowed him to calculate each theatre's box office earnings.

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