By Jonah Grinkewitz
Old Dominion University’s campus would not look or feel the way it does today without the efforts of David Harnage.
Harnage, who served at ODU for more than 20 years in multiple roles, died May 28. He was 71.
As Vice President of Administration and Finance in the ‘90s and during a second stint as Chief Operating Officer from 2011 to 2017, he led numerous projects to expand and beautify the University.
He was responsible for many signature elements of the present-day campus, including the brick wall along Hampton Blvd., the placement of the University seal, the Monarch lion fountain, the greening of Kaufman Mall and several University gardens.
As the ODU Real Estate Foundation began acquiring 70 acres of land east of Hampton Blvd. in the late ‘90s, he helped plan the University Village, the Ted Constant Convocation Center (now Chartway Arena) and the ODU arts district.
In addition, he was closely involved in the design and construction of many ODU buildings, including: the Engineering & Computational Sciences Building (the first LEED-certified engineering building in the U.S.); the Oceanography & Physical Sciences Building; the Kate and John R. Broderick Dining Commons; the Darden College of Education & Professional Studies Building; the Barry Art Museum; and S.B. Ballard Stadium.
“Dave deserves tremendous credit for conceptualizing and implementing several design principles that resulted in the campus that exists today,” said Bob Fenning, who served as Harnage’s successor from 2000 to 2014. “Those principles included the large glass expanse at the main entry to campus buildings, the consistent application of ODU brick (color) and the crown and terrazzo floor at main entryways with a large ODU seal.”
When Fenning arrived at the University, he said it was mostly known as a commuter school with its campus defined by huge surface parking lots, chain link fences and a hodgepodge of building designs.
“You'd walk around campus and so many students were wearing t-shirts with the logo and name of other institutions,” Fenning said. “Sense of place has a profound impact on how people view where they are and bond with it. The impact of applying Dave’s design standards over the past 25 years has truly created a sense of place and considerable pride within the University community.”
By the time Fenning retired from ODU, he said the culture on campus had changed with more and more students showing their school spirit.
“He knew how to set a vision and knew what a strong organization needed,” said Rusty Waterfield, who was hired by Harnage in 1986.
Before spearheading physical changes at ODU, Harnage helped establish the University’s computing and technology infrastructure as Chief Information Officer and Vice President for Computing Services.
Born in Adel, Georgia, Harnage came to ODU in 1985 after overseeing advanced computing at the University of Georgia.
His initiatives included bringing a super-minicomputer to the University, launching computer labs on campus and connecting ODU to the internet, all leading to increased resources for faculty research and student learning.
“He knew how to set a vision and knew what a strong organization needed,” said Rusty Waterfield, who was hired by Harnage in 1986 to help manage the supercomputer and went on to serve as Associate Vice President for Information Technology Services and Chief Information Officer at ODU.
Waterfield said Harnage was a “master negotiator” and recalled how he got the best deal possible with a company to update ODU’s computational technology on the eve of Y2K.
“I thought we had a great deal, but Dave wanted to meet with the vendor,” Waterfield said.
It turns out Harnage had crossed paths with the company representative during his time in Georgia.
“Next thing you know, they’re talking about eating catfish at a restaurant in Georgia and they offered him a better discount,” Waterfield said. “He knew exactly how to engage with people and get them excited about ODU.”
Harnage left ODU in 2000 for Longwood University where he helped rebuild several campus buildings destroyed in “The Great Fire of 2001.” After spending time at Towson University, he joined Moseley Architects and led business development in the higher education market.
In 2009, ODU dedicated the David F. Harnage Computer and Data Center on the fourth floor of the Engineering & Computational Sciences Building in recognition of his many contributions to technology and infrastructure at ODU.
More than being a successful master planner and leader, Waterfield said Harnage was incredibly warm and connected with everyone he met, from business executives to the grounds crew at the University.
“Other than my dad, he had the greatest influence on me,” Waterfield said. “Willing to do anything for anybody, always wanting the best for people. In my 38 years, second to none. Just an amazing man.”
“Dave was a special man, a wonderful boss and a friend,” said Donna Meeks, who was Assistant to the Vice President for Administration and Finance when Harnage was at ODU. “While he was a taskmaster and demanded excellence from his team, he had a kind heart and truly cared for those he worked with.”
A celebration of his life was held June 4. Read his obituary and donate to the David F. Harnage Memorial Fund to benefit the Open-Heart Surgical Center at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center through June 28.