New residence halls. A new College of Business Learning Complex coming next year. A new arena for basketball, entertainment and special events opening in Fall 2020. A new parking deck. A newly renovated Wilson Hall. A new land bridge. A new Phillips Hall in the works for Spring 2020. A road extension of Grace Street.

The growth of James Madison University is evident everywhere you look, and the impact of the Unleashed campaign can now be seen across campus. JMU has the largest number of capital projects underway at one time in the institution’s history.

“In order to attract the best and brightest students and faculty, you must provide great facilities,” said Charlie King, senior vice president for administration and finance. “JMU has a long history of doing that and to continue that practice, we are including capital improvements in our Unleashed campaign.”

The new CoB Learning Complex, with an open and bright design, will be more than twice the square footage of the current College of Business in Zane Showker Hall. When complete, it will give students and faculty dedicated spaces for innovation, collaboration, creativity, entrepreneurship and community engagement.

The Atlantic Union Bank Center, set to open in Fall 2020, will have 8,500 seats for JMU men’s and women’s basketball games and a capacity of 9,500 for events like commencement and concerts, depending on configuration. It will be a preeminent venue featuring modern technology, video boards, improved sightlines and upgraded concessions.

Paul Jennings Hall, the newest residence hall on campus, is home to 500 students and features a learning commons, 200-person great room and grab-and-go dining option. Jennings, once held in slavery by James Madison's family, purchased his freedom and joined the abolitionist movement. Some of Jennings’ descendants attended a grand opening of the residence hall in October.

Across Interstate 81, Bluestone Drive now connects to Mason Street near the Student Success Center. The Grace Street Extension diverts vehicles away from heavy foot traffic around the Bluestone area.

For the first time since 1931, Wilson Hall is fully renovated. Featuring a two-story atrium and a refurbished auditorium with new seating, it is the new home for history students who are creating content in a cutting-edge podcast studio, working with big data, doing hands-on work like developing websites in a new history lab, studying in smart classrooms and using 21st-century technology such as 3D printers and virtual reality.

In addition to the major construction projects, several smaller improvements have been made around campus. Tireless work by the facilities and construction teams have kept plans on track (and ahead of schedule in some cases) as JMU unleashes its graduates on the world.