The Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) recognized the University of Virginia's Contemplative Commons with a 2025 Design Excellence Award. SCUP honors achievement in strategic, integrated planning that results in exemplary buildings and grounds, institutional success, and careers that inspire. The Contemplative Sciences Center facility was honored in the category of Excellence in Architecture for a New Building.
JURY COMMENTS
...exceptional project . . . first-of-a-kind mission to enable contemplative learning, creating a place for students to engage with others, sensory learning, and nature . . . dynamic spaces, warm materials interact effectively with the outside . . . programs blend and merge nicely . . . daylight and natural textures work together to give the building a soul...
Nicole Thomas, Alice Raucher, Kent Chiang, and Joe Celentano presented at this year's conference held in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Alice Raucher is the Architect for the University of Virginia (UVA), responsible for stewardship of UVA's entire 2,700-acre campus, including Thomas Jefferson’s original college, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Nicole Thomas is the Director of UVA's Contemplative Commons, where she leads program development, implementation, and engagement strategy for the Contemplative Commons.
Kent Chiang is a principal of Aidlin Darling Design, an interdisciplinary studio focused on sensory engagement and biophilia. He was the principal designer for the Contemplative Commons.
Joe Celentano is a Principal from VMDO Architects in Charlottesville, and was the Architect of Record for the Contemplative Commons.
Project Team
Aidlin Darling Design; VMDO, Architect of Record; Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscapre Architecture, Landscape Architecture; Springpoint Structural, Structural Engineer; AEI/Affiliated Engineers Inc., MEP Engineering; TRC, Civil Engineering; Apeiro Design, Lighting Design and AV Consulting; Pivotal Lighting Design, Lighting Design; Brightspot Strategy, not part of Buro Happold, Programming Consultant.