Randolph celebrates completion of Martin Science Building renovation
Lynchburg City Manager Wynter Benda, Randolph professor Ann Fabirkiewicz, Lynchburg Mayor Larry Taylor, Jamerson-Lewis CEO Kevin Hooper, Randolph President Sue Ott Rowlands, Severin McNulty ’27, and Lamoi Lewars ’27 celebrate after Ott Rowlands cut the ribbon.
Several hundred people gathered on campus Thursday to celebrate the completion of the Martin Science Building renovation.
“As we cut the ribbon this afternoon, we are not just opening a building,” President Sue Ott Rowlands said as she stood with city leaders, students, faculty, and other supporters on the front steps of Martin. “We are opening doors—to discovery, to innovation, and to the futures that will be shaped by the students who learn here.”
The $23 million renovation project, led by Jamerson-Lewis Construction, is one of the College’s largest investments and was funded almost entirely by donations and grants.
Built in the late 1930s and named in memory of Fernando Wood Martin, the first scientist on the College’s faculty, the 38,000-square-foot Martin Science Building serves as the hub for Randolph’s programs in biology, chemistry, physics, math and computer science, marine science, physics and engineering, and environmental studies and sciences.
While primarily remaining true to its original architecture, the building is now equipped with modern, state-of-the-art labs, new faculty offices, and a permanent home for the College’s Natural History and Archaeology Collections.
“We have spaces designed for collaboration, with flexible labs and gathering areas where students can exchange ideas across disciplines,” said Ann Fabirkiewicz, Randolph’s Charles A. Dana Professor of Chemistry. “From introductory chemistry to advanced research projects, these spaces will foster the curiosity and persistence that define a Randolph education.”
In addition to Randolph trustees, faculty, staff, and students, attendees included Del. Wendell Walker, Lynchburg Mayor Larry Taylor, City Manager Wynter Benda, Jamerson-Lewis Construction CEO Kevin Hooper, and other community members and leaders.
“Today, we celebrate an investment in our future,” said Severin McNulty ’27, a physics and math major. “As a student preparing for graduate study in nuclear physics, these laboratories and classrooms allow me to explore, to experiment, and to challenge myself in ways that reflect the work I hope to pursue. This renovation strengthens the foundational steps in any student’s journey. It’s more than just a building. It is a reflection of Randolph’s culture.”
In her remarks, Ott Rowlands recognized the generosity of donors, the resilience and flexibility of students, faculty, and staff, and the talents of the design and construction teams that helped bring the project to fruition.
“It’s been a labor of love for a lot of people,” added Kevin Hooper, CEO of Jamerson-Lewis Construction. “The completion of this project is proof of the perseverance and dedication that everybody involved had over these years. There was no way this project was going to get done without a solid team.”
Hooper also praised VMDO Architects for their “amazing vision.”
“They provided a state-of-the-art facility with high-tech science equipment,” Hooper said. “But it also has that artistic flair that provides an open, elegant, light space for students to enjoy learning in.”
Phase One of the construction began in January 2024, and the new spaces were opened to students as they were completed.
“For my peers and I, these labs are more than just classrooms,” biology major Lamoi Lewars ’27 said during the event. “They’re places where curiosity meets practice, where we test our ideas, sometimes fail, but then try again to make it right.
“These upgraded facilities will allow us to pursue more advanced research, tackle bigger questions, and prepare for challenges beyond the Red Brick Wall,” she continued. “Personally, I know this building will continue to shape my journey not only as a student, but as someone who wishes to contribute to the world through science.” 
