A Trio of State Awards for the Greer Environmental Sciences Center
10.22.20The Greer Environmental Sciences Center at Virginia Wesleyan University has received a trio of notable state awards from AIA Virginia, ASLA Virginia, and ASID Virginia/IIDA Virginia-West Virginia. All three juries highlighted the project's commitment to sustainability in promoting stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay. The building supports the university’s liberal arts mission to engage a diversity of students in applied learning experiences. The building and landscape were designed to embody this mission and facilitate the lessons taught within.
"Design Should Educate and Uplift": Rob Winstead in ArchDaily on Social Justice and Building Sustainable Futures
07.09.20Shaping the future begins with education. For VMDO Principal Rob Winstead, learning spaces go hand in hand with sustainability. As a nationally-recognized expert in education, Winstead is an advocate for blending thoughtful design with high performance goals. In an exclusive interview with ArchDaily, Winstead talks about his personal background and experiences, as well as his role in shaping how VMDO approaches sustainability, education and social justice.
Discovery Elementary School Named A World Changing Idea by Fast Company
04.28.20A teaching tool for the climate action generation, Discovery Elementary School was selected from more than 3,000 entries as an honorable mention in both the Education and Spaces, Places, and Cities categories in Fast Company’s 2020 World Changing Ideas program.
Turning Inspiration into Action: Honoring the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
04.22.20With the stress and uncertainty of this unprecedented moment, who wants to talk about the urgency of climate change? Yet it is precisely now that Earth Day matters most. Today, for the first time in recent memory, there is global awareness that individual health is almost completely reliant on the health of others. This now visceral understanding of our interconnectedness may be the key to finally changing how we live in order to protect not just our health but that of future generations.
Bluestone Elementary School Named “Most Livable Building” in the U.S.
11.18.19Harrisonburg City Public Schools’ Bluestone Elementary School has received the top Livable Buildings Award from UC Berkeley’s Center for the Built Environment (CBE), making it the happiest school in America! Now in its thirteenth year, the Livable Buildings Awards recognize projects that demonstrate high occupant satisfaction, excellent design, and innovative operation strategies.
Stand with Students: Take Action to Support the Youth Climate Strike on September 20
09.09.19On September 20, young people around the world will strike to demand immediate and transformative climate action. For the first time, they are asking for adults to join them. VMDO is answering that call for solidarity by participating in the Youth Climate Strike and we encourage our fellow design professionals, community members, and families to do the same.
Reflecting on Our Approach to Architecture
12.21.18As we near the end of the year, we reflect on what we've learned, where we've gone, and what we've accomplished – all while recommitting to core principles that are woven throughout our approach to design.
The Greer Environmental Sciences Center: An Immersive Science Experience at the Crossroads of Research and Stewardship
01.23.18By facilitating an immersive learning experience, the LEED Gold Greer Center extends beyond its size to encourage a culture of collaboration and connect Virginia Wesleyan University to the ongoing study and stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay region.