A huge fire destroyed Longwood College's historic Rotunda on Tuesday and damaged additional buildings in the school's Ruffner Hall complex.
No injuries or fatalities were reported in the Farmville incident.
East and West Ruffner Halls, used for classrooms and offices, were completely gutted in the blaze, and Grainger Hall suffered severe damage to its roof and top floor.
About 400 students also were evacuated from the Tabb, South Tabb, French and South Ruffner residence halls, which are part of the same complex of buildings destroyed by the blaze.
"Students still can't go back into their rooms," freshman Longwood student Michelle Kravitz said. "People were sleeping in our room last night because they had nowhere to go."
The residence halls suffered heat and smoke damage and possibly some water and fire damage as well, Longwood spokeswoman Judy McReynolds said. "The important thing is that no students were injured."
All classes and final exams at Longwood are canceled for the rest of the semester, and students have been asked to leave campus by noon Saturday.
The historical Ruffner complex, dating back to the 19th century, had been undergoing a major $12 million renovation for the past year.
According to fire department officials, the cause of the fire remains unknown. Initial speculation centered on the possibility that the fire was related to the renovation efforts.
More than 150 firefighters fought "flames reaching 20 feet in the air," said Walter English, a Farmville firefighter and sophomore student at Longwood. "The fire was extremely large ... the biggest I've ever seen."
Despite the extensive damage to classrooms, offices and residence halls, classes over the summer and next semester will continue as scheduled, McReynolds said.
"There are things that are going to have to be adjusted, but there is no strategic plan at this point," she said. The college "is committed to rebuilding Ruffner."
University officials offered Longwood some of the University's resources to help the school recover from the fire, said Leonard W. Sandridge Jr., executive vice president and chief operating officer.
"If we have expertise, supplies or equipment here that might be of benefit to Longwood on a temporary basis as they recover from this very serious fire, we are prepared to make those resources available," Sandridge said.
Students and local residents still are reeling from the impact of the fire.
"This is so unexpected ... it's very difficult to deal with," freshman Longwood student Elena Asban said. "A lot of people are very upset."
"People throughout the community are just as shocked and sad as we are," McReynolds said. "This is definitely a landmark for the entire town"
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