PHOTOPHILE- Viva la viticulture: PVCC digs Kluge-Moses building

Sure it's a photo cliché, but with so many happy, hard-hatted ground breakers– except for Patricia Kluge, center, who eschewed the hard-hat look– we'll let it go this once.
PHOTO BY LISA PROVENCE

The University of Virginia casts a pretty large shadow in Charlottesville, but October 15 was Piedmont Virginia Community College's day in the sun with the groundbreaking for the Kluge-Moses Science Building.

Elected officials, financial supporters, and PVCC students gathered for what's an infrequent occurrence at the school: Its last groundbreaking was more than 10 years ago– September 20, 1996- for the V. Earl Dickinson Building, President Frank Friedman told the assembled well-wishers.

Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard's founder, Patricia Kluge, and husband/CEO Bill Moses donated $1.2 million– the school's largest ever– to the new science building. A grateful board decided to name the new structure for its wine-making patrons.

"Three years ago, we were talking with Frank Friedman," said Kluge. "We asked Frank if he'd include viticulture and enology. Being a smart businessman, he said yes immediately."

The $11.4 million, 34,000-square-foot building has an ambitious construction schedule so it can be ready to open in fall 2010. And don't worry, would-be donors. There are still classrooms and labs available for naming rights, starting at a more modest $25,000.

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