How about we embark on a journey? A journey to Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus.
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus began its journey in 1965. It was then known as Northern Virginia Technical College. Classes started in a warehouse on Carlyn Springs Road. This location was in Bailey’s Crossroads. 761 students were enrolled.
The college needed more space as the student body grew. In 1966, the college bought 78 acres in Annandale. This was for the first of NOVA’s six campuses. Robert W. McKee became the college’s first president. Soon, the Virginia General Assembly changed the college’s name. It became Northern Virginia Community College. This change reflected the new Virginia Community College System.
Initially, the Annandale Campus was called the Central Campus. This was due to its location in Fairfax County. It is now the largest of NOVA’s campuses. Construction started in 1967. The first building opened in 1968. Dr. Richard J. Ernst replaced Robert W. McKee as president in 1968. During his time, more buildings were added. These were constructed in 1969, 1970, 1972, 1992, and 1997. In the fall of 2011, a new student services building was added to the Annandale Campus. The Mark Warner Student Services Building was named after Virginia Senator Mark Warner in 2016.
Today, the Annandale Campus has fifteen buildings. It hosts about 23000 students each year. The college offers more than forty programs of study.
The land that Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus occupies has a rich history. Between 1649 and 1966, the land changed ownership many times. Cindie Pappas researched the title history and found forty-one transactions.
In 1966 and 1971, the state of Virginia purchased two parcels for the campus. The larger parcel was part of the “Malone Farm.” William H. Gooding sold 476 acres to his son-in-law John Malone in 1868. William H. and his father William Gooding Jr. assembled the land. This included a large parcel in 1821. Another tract was added in 1839.
William Gooding willed two small parcels to his daughters in 1861. These parcels were one acre each. Jane Coyle and Maria Howard inherited them. These small parcels were subdivided. The state of Virginia acquired these pieces for the campus. They likely contributed to the widening of Little River Turnpike and Wakefield Chapel Road.
Northern Virginia Community College was established February 8, 1965. Anne M. Kress has been president since January 13, 2020. NOVA has campuses in Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun County, Manassas, Springfield and Woodbridge. NOVA Libraries contain more than 250000 volumes.
The Annandale Campus began with one building in 1967. It was on a 78-acre site. Three more buildings were built in 1969. The TV/Technical Building was added in 1970. The Nursing Building was completed in 1972. The Brault Building houses college staff. It was completed in 1984 and renovated in 2015. The Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center opened in 1990. The MacDiarmid Building was completed in 1997. A parking garage opened in 2006.
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus stands as a place of learning. It is a place of growth. It is a place with a long and interesting past.