FARMVILLE, Va. - Longwood University and Skanska have built a strong partnership in recent years, with the global construction and development company playing a pivotal role in enhancing the campus through numerous transformative capital projects. Now, that relationship is expanding in a new way. 

 

Longwood Athletics announced today that Skanska will become the inaugural jersey patch sponsor of Lancer basketball, marking a new chapter in the partnership and further strengthening Skanska's connection to the university. 

 

"Skanska's impact on Longwood University is visible every day to our student-athletes, from the Joan Perry Brock Center to the Upchurch Student Center," said Longwood Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Tim Hall. "We're thrilled to build on this partnership and welcome a globally recognized company as an invested partner in our championship-caliber basketball programs. This innovative agreement reflects the momentum of Longwood Athletics and provides additional resources to enhance our programs." 

 

"Our partnership with Longwood University extends well beyond the buildings we construct. It is rooted in a shared commitment to creating an exceptional experience for students and strengthening the broader Longwood community," said Mark Balling, executive vice president and general manager for Skanska's Mid-Atlantic region. "We are proud to support the student-athletes who represent the university with such dedication." 

 

The new jersey patch will appear on uniforms for both Longwood's men's and women's basketball teams beginning this season, further tying Skanska's tradition of excellence to two of the Lancers' perennial Big South Championship contenders. The Lancer men have captured two of the last five Big South Conference championships, winning titles in 2022 and 2024. In 2025-26, the Lancers extended a program-record run of five consecutive seasons with at least 16 wins, averaging 20 victories per season during that span. 

 

Longwood women's basketball has also established itself among the Big South's top programs, coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons. The Lancers won the conference championship in 2022 and reached the title game in 2025 before earning a berth in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). 

 

And just as the Lancer basketball programs have surged to the top tier of the Big South, so too has Skanska contributed to the ongoing transformation of numerous facets of Longwood's historic campus. Among Skanska's capital projects is the Joan Perry Brock Center, a multi-use venue that serves as the home of Lancer basketball, a community event space and the setting for a number of high-profile university celebrations, from convocation to commencement.  Since opening, the "JPB" has established itself as one of the region's premier college basketball and performance venues, fueled by the passion of Lancer Nation and a formidable home-court advantage. 

 

"Our partnership with Longwood University has grown through years of collaboration and shared values," said Bobby Myer, senior vice president of business development at Skanska. "Seeing the university continue to reach new levels of achievement is a source of great pride for our team, and we're honored to support the Lancers as part of their continued success." 

 

Longwood's partnership with Skanska also extends to other major campus projects. Among those recent collaborations is the construction of the three-story, 79,000-square-foot Upchurch Student Center, which opened in August 2018. The company is also currently constructing Whitehead Hall, a 60,000-square-foot music education facility scheduled to open in fall 2028. 

 

With more than 135 years of experience, Skanska is one of the world's leading construction and project development companies. In the United States, the company specializes in construction, civil infrastructure and commercial development, drawing on its expertise to shape the places where people live, work and connect.