The Second Century Fund Construction Phase, 1996-2001

After nearly one hundred years, Boys’ Home examined its mission and its programs to better serve children in need during its second century.

The majority of the boys accepted for residential education at Boys’ Home come with poor school performance. The causes vary from poor school attendance to inadequate preparation. Studies indicated a need for on-campus schooling to help residents "catch up" before attending public schools. One can imagine the enormous discouragement for a boy in a situation where he is years behind his peers.

The Greer Education Center was constructed as a two-story 8000 square foot building including computer lab, general classrooms, library, counseling office, activity rooms and multi-purpose room. The cost estimate for the center was $1,200,000 for the building and another $150,000 for the furnishings. The project was completed on schedule and within cost estimates. The Boys’ Home School opened in the Greer Education Center for the 2000-01 school year.

The Grigsby Building, which had served as the Boys’ Home maintenance shop, was renovated to include the Evans Vocational/Technical Labs. Both floors of the building were adapted for teaching purposes and space added for both exploratory and formal instruction. Cost estimates for the Grigsby Building was $600,000 for the renovation, furnishings and equipment. The construction doubled the size of the 4000 square foot maintenance facility. Project was completed October, 2000.

During early August 2000, excavation for the Wheatley Intake and Evaluation Center began. The building expanded the intake capacity to ten residents and was named in honor of Mary Andrews and Donnie E. Wheatley.

The Greer and Grigsby buildings featured ground source heat pumps. The ground source heat pumps required 24 wells at the Greer Education Center and 12 additional at the Grigsby Building. An additional $200,000 was committed for the geothermal wells and the necessary utility extensions.

Site Plan: Anderson and Associates, Inc. Blacksburg; Design: Architectural Alternatives, Blacksburg; Contractor: Thor, Inc., Roanoke; Subcontractors: Varney Electric, Roanoke and Richard Simmons Well Drilling of Buchanan.