A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor, a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

Group Walking Tours
(NOTE: Tickets required due to space limitations)
Please call the Special Events Office at 1-5397 by May 8 to register for a tour. Participants will be told immediately if there is space on the tour requested, and a confirmation ticket will be mailed to the participant's campus address. Participants who request a ticket and are unable to use it should pass it on to someone who can. Space is limited and the goal is for as many people as possible to be able to participate in the tours. For special accommodations to participate in a group tour, call Debbie Rhea at 1-5397 by May 8. Staff Appreciation Day is May 14.
Bring tickets to the Rector Field House to assure a place in the tour. The central meeting place for all group walking tours will be inside Rector Field House near the bandstand. Look for the sign "WALKING TOURS." There will be tour group leaders for each tour. Since these tours are part of the CommonHealth fitness program, participants will receive an additional CommonHealth gift. Tours MAY NOT BE CANCELLED because of rain; bring umbrellas. Participants should arrive and begin lining up at least 15 minutes before the departure time for their tour.
College of Veterinary Medicine Tours--10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Visit major diagnostic and treatment facilities in both the small-animal and large-animal components of the hospital. Also visit the Alphin Radiology Center where to see a variety of modern imaging technologies including ultrasound, fluoroscopy and CT scanning.
Deet's Place Tours--10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
This tour offers a program demonstrating the fine art of roasting coffee beans and an introduction to the specialty coffee industry. Participants will learn about a variety of beans and sample different types of coffee, including Hokie Blend and Deet's Place house blend. The program will be held at Deet's Place, Virginia Tech's Premiere Coffee, Ice Cream and Pastry Shop, in Dietrick Dining Hall.
The Fralin Biotechnology Center Tour--10:30 a.m.
The center, dedicated in the fall of 1995, was named for the late Horace G. Fralin of Roanoke. Its purpose is to turn biology into practical commercial applications. The 45,000-square-foot building on West Campus Drive, across the street from Hillcrest, houses the biological sciences faculty, researchers and students majoring in biotechnology. Tour guides will take guests through its state-of-the-art research laboratories which are used for DNA manipulation, cloning, protein purification, and bioengineering. It also has three teaching laboratories, a computer laboratory, a classroom, and an auditorium.
The Grove Tours--10:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11 a.m., and 11:15 a.m.
The home for Virginia Tech presidents, The Grove, has overseen the development of Virginia Tech since its construction in 1902. From a hill above the western end of the Drillfield, and above the Duck Pond, the elegant home witnessed the transformation of the institution from a military school with only 475 students to a comprehensive university with more than 25,000 students. The Grove is a colonial revival structure on a site that is somewhat removed from the busy campus, but is still close enough for easy access. A tour guide will point out interesting features of the home and its furnishings.
Horticulture Gardens Tours--10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Located on Washington Street, across from Litton-Reaves Hall, the Horticulture Gardens complex is a living museum of plant materials. A tour guide will lead guests through the gardens for the group walk, explaining the various vegetation and gardening methods. Although a tour guide will not be available except during tour times, participants may visit the gardens during the remainder of the day.
Scientific Glassworking Lab Tours--10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The Scientific Glassworking Lab, located at 1006 Hahn Hall, was started March 1, 1967. The lab is involved in the design and construction of laboratory instruments for the entire campus. In principle, glass tubes (mainly Pyrex) are heated and softened by means of a gas and oxygen burner, then formed into the required shape. This work is done 100-percent by hand.
Adult Day Care Center Tour--2 p.m.
Virginia Tech Adult Day Services was established in 1993 to provide day services for adults who are frail or disabled. The program offers a variety of activities and services to keep adults active and involved in life. It is located in 102 Wallace Hall.