Facility Overview

The Runk & Pratt Garage is a premier, modern multi-level parking deck located on the East Campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Designed by Baskervill and opened in 2020, this towering nine-story structured facility encompasses roughly 80,000 square feet per deck level and accommodates approximately 2,000 vehicles. Named in honor of longtime university supporters and regional healthcare pioneers Brian and Vickie Runk, the facility was engineered to handle high-volume campus flow, major athletic contests, and university-wide gatherings.

The structure is well-suited for everyday passenger vehicles, including compact cars, family sedans, crossovers, mid-size and full-size SUVs, and standard light-duty pickup trucks. The garage features wide driving lanes, generous turning radii between ramps, and high ceilings that comfortably accommodate standard rooftop cargo boxes. However, oversized commercial vehicles, high-roof delivery vans, campervans, and trailers exceed the standard garage clearance height (typically restricted to 7 feet, 2 inches) and must utilize designated open-air university surface lots.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Nestled strategically against the foot of Liberty Mountain and bordering U.S. Route 460, the Runk & Pratt Garage serves as the primary eastern gateway for both campus residents and arriving event guests. Key destinations within short walking distance or direct pedestrian connection include:

• Liberty Arena & Vines Center: A quick 5- to 7-minute walk through the campus pedestrian tunnel connects visitors directly to LU basketball games, volleyball matches, convocations, and arena concerts.
• Williams Stadium: Home of Liberty Flames Football (25,000 capacity), located less than a 10-minute walk or brief shuttle ride away.
• Reber-Thomas Dining Center: Liberty's flagship two-story dining hall is situated just across the main walkway and pedestrian tunnel.
• School of Business & Academic Commons: Centrally located academic centers directly accessible for students, faculty, and visiting guest lecturers.
• Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre: Year-round skiing, snowboarding, and tubing slope located a 3-minute drive up Liberty Mountain Drive.
• River Ridge Mall & Candlers Station: Lynchburg’s premier retail and dining destinations are located within a 5-minute drive along Candlers Mountain Road.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress are straightforward via Liberty Mountain Drive and City View Lane, which link directly to the U.S. 460 (Richmond Highway) corridor and Candlers Mountain Road. This expressway proximity allows motorists to bypass central campus traffic gridlock when arriving from or departing toward Charlottesville, Roanoke, Richmond, or Appomattox.

Pedestrians benefit from direct connectivity into the East Campus pedestrian underpass beneath U.S. 460, offering a seamless, grade-separated route directly into Main Campus. For public transit, Liberty University Transit runs regular shuttle buses with stops immediately adjacent to the deck, shuttling passengers across Main Campus, North Campus (Green Hall), and peripheral housing developments. Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH) and the Kemper Street Amtrak Station are both reachable within a 10- to 12-minute drive.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Expansive Capacity: Nine covered decks housing approximately 2,000 marked vehicle stalls.
• Electric Vehicle Charging: Equipped with 20 Level 2 EV charging stations positioned on the 3rd floor.
• Vertical Transportation: Four high-speed passenger elevators and illuminated perimeter stairwells for swift movement between decks.
• Accessibility: Clearly designated ADA-compliant accessible parking stalls adjacent to ground-level ramps and elevator vestibules.
• Safety & Security: Monitored 24/7 with comprehensive digital CCTV surveillance, bright energy-efficient LED overhead illumination, emergency call boxes (blue lights), and frequent patrols by the Liberty University Police Department (LUPD).
• Visitor Registration: Convenient digital guest pass system allowing university visitors to register license plates online prior to parking.

Ideal For

• Flames Athletics Fans: The ultimate parking base for football Saturdays at Williams Stadium and basketball showdowns at Liberty Arena.
• Campus Visitors & Prospective Students: Official designated parking hub for College For A Weekend (CFAW), campus tours, and university open houses.
• Commuter & Residential Students: Multi-tiered permit parking serving campus east residents and daily student commuters.
• Conference & Event Attendees: Convenient covered parking for large-scale conferences, graduations, and guest speakers hosted on campus.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During standard weekday academic enforcement (typically 4:00 AM to 4:00 PM), campus parking rules are strictly enforced by campus safety officers; prospective visitors should register for a digital visitor parking pass online via the university visitor portal or at the Hancock Welcome Center before arrival. On major football and concert event days, internal garage flow transitions to event-staff management; arriving at least 45 to 60 minutes before kickoff is strongly advised to secure lower-level parking and facilitate a faster post-game exit onto U.S. 460.