press release

The Society for College and University Planning announces VMDO Architects' Merit Award for the firm's design of Averett University's New Student Center

The new student creates a "heart" for education and cultural community.

September 18, 2007

As Averett changed from being a regional college to a comprehensive university in 2001, its main campus demanded a recognizable “heart” or campus center. The university needed to recast its identity, establish a meaningful and memorable campus setting, and meet new challenges for student life as a university. The purpose of the new Student Center building was to make a place, and a way, for faculty, staff, and students to gather together as a university community. Its goal was to create a welcoming place to draw students in, encourage them to stay, gather, and share experiences.

Programs included: academic support, administration, student life and activities, and dining services, combined to create vitality. The building transformed a workday, commuter-dominated college environment into a lively, university campus with round-the-clock student presence, on-campus extracurricular and weekend activities, building an educational and cultural community.

The university president played a large part to fuse all the voices, find consensus, garner financial support, and confidently lead the project. This dedication to the institutional vision for Averett, and the focus on students ensured the project’s success.

The solution focused on the landscape first and the building second. A curved concrete wall marks the base of a wooded hill and channels storm water into stepping pools flanking the new entry terrace. The main path moves along the edge of the program spaces through a glazed hall that brings the lawn space into the building. Brick piers define a modern portico off the café and games space.

The top floor has open workstations, storage, shared work space, and support resources that build synergy between students.

Students, faculty, and staff have intuitively found their own comfortable place throughout the building. This success is due to the direct involvement of key people at the right time, the strength and drive of the administration, and the design team’s vision.

Sustainability is evident in the design and the landscape architecture. The storm water approach turns a significant problem into an active demonstration of innovative and best practices. Rainwater run-off collects at the site, where it is funneled into a bio-filtration channel to control sediment and pollutants.

“The building frames a new campus focal point, creates a campus living room, and connects commuter and residential students with the university community for a complete integration of campus life,” says Richard A. Pfau, Averett University president.

The Project Team Averett University includes VMDO Architects, Fox & Associates, 2rw Consulting Engineers, and Bagby Planning and Design.

As the leader in the field of planning for higher education, SCUP offers an awards program to recognize the accomplishments of those who advance the causes of higher education through excellent planning and design. Each year the organization recognizes firms that demonstrate excellence in planning; excellence in landscape architecture; and excellence in architecture. To learn more about the Society for College and University Planning, click here

For a complete list of all of this year's winners, please click here.

VMDO Architects was founded in 1976 and is the youngest firm to receive the T. David Fitz-Gibbon Virginia Architecture Award, the most prestigious honor given by the Virginia Society of American Institute of Architects.

For further information, interview, and photography opportunities in reference to this project and VMDO Architects, please contact William Bishop at 434.296.5684, email at bishop@vmdo.com.