Currently under construction, the Contemplative Commons is a new multipurpose building located in the heart of UVA Grounds between Bavaro Hall and the Dell Pond. The 57,000-square-foot Contemplative Commons will incorporate several new outdoor spaces, including contemplative gardens, a tree-lined courtyard, and a new green pedestrian bridge across Emmet Street.
CSC has been working closely with UVA's Office of the Architect as well as Aidlin Darling Design, VMDO, and Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects to design this new indoor-outdoor complex to accommodate a new model of higher education—one dedicated to helping students flourish in all aspects of their lives at school and beyond.
The new building will offer a number of innovations in form and function over traditional lecture halls, including an abundance of natural light and highly interconnected indoor-outdoor spaces that reflect the importance of nature exposure to health and well-being. The design includes a variety of flexible learning studios that can be configured for academic classes, quiet reflection, physical activity, or social interaction. During the day the building primarily will house academic activities, while on evenings and weekends, it will host extracurricular events, social gatherings, and local community engagements.