This news story was created as part of a class project.

On August 31, the day of Liberty University’s first home football game and alumni Homecoming event, Liberty officially completed construction on a new parking space near Green Hall’s LaHaye Ice Center.

The project, located in the LaHaye Ice Center’s Pavilion Parking Lot, was started at the end of the Spring 2023 semester. The newly completed parking deck, which was built by architecture firm Baskervill, stands five stories tall, and additionally includes a seven-level parking deck with space for 1,500 vehicles as well as chargers for electric vehicles (W.M Jordan).

The location of this new parking deck has proven to be very strategic. With the number of students enrolled at Liberty increasing to a record high in the Fall 2024 semester following the construction and grand opening of a new residence hall, a number of students have expressed some disappointment with the lack of available parking spots on campus, especially around many residence halls and buildings where classes are held. Some students believe that the construction of this new parking deck will, and has already improved parking conditions in Green Hall.

“I’ve noticed less cars, and I think that’s a result of the new parking deck,” residential student Miriam Rockenbaugh said. “I think it’ll continue to help with parking issues and everything, and I think it’s just overall very beneficial to the student body.”

While many students, like Miriam, have a more optimistic view of the new parking deck, believing that it may help to reduce general parking issues in the future, many other students view this addition as simply a temporary solution to a more extensive problem.

“I think it’ll be somewhat helpful, but parking on campus overall is kind of a problem” residential student Titus Benfield said. “I don’t know; I think it’ll solve some temporary problems, but I think if the university is thinking long term about parking problems, I don’t know exactly if it’ll help.”