Like many small colleges, the University of Virginia’s College at Wise has recently entered a period of growth. With an increasing number of residential students, the College is investing in services to support them. VMDO Architects has designed a new Student Center to provide an opportunity for residential students and commuter groups to interact.
Set into the hillside, the Student Center civilizes the once daunting hill impeding movement between the College’s lower residential campus and upper academic buildings. The Student Center links the two campuses and puts a new face on the college.
The new facility houses a campus information center, career center, student lounge, dining services, banquet facilities, fitness center, and bookstore. It also provides meeting space for student leadership groups, study rooms, a branch bank, post office and administrative offices. The new Student Center offers outside gathering space, as well. A landscaped stair running up the hillside, parallel to the building, creates an outdoor amphitheater.
“During the twenty-one years I have worked with architectural and engineering firms, I have dealt with none who have exhibited the standards of professionalism, problem-solving, customer relations, and design creativity as VMDO. They have developed design guidelines for the College and put them into action on buildings and landscapes on our campus, which is bringing about change and putting character into our buildings.”
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, University of Virginia's College at Wise
Client: University of Virginia’s College at Wise
Location: Wise, VA
Discipline: Student Life
Completion: 2003
Size: 47,779 SF
