Buildings and Grounds Committee to review schematic design for Center for the Arts

In 2018, the University of Virginia Foundation demolished the Cavalier Inn and other nearby structures to make way for what has now become the Emmet Ivy Corridor. A building for the School of Data Science is now being used and construction is well underway on a hotel and convention center called the Virginia Guesthouse.

On Thursday, the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the Board of Visitors will have a further review of the schematic design for a new Center for the Arts which will be built on Emmet Street. The project has a preliminary budget of $315 million and will consolidate many existing UVA programs.

“The 5-story, 210,000 [gross square foot] Center for the Arts will include the 1,200-seat Richard and Tessa Ader Performing Arts Center; co-locate the holdings and programs of UVA’s Fralin

Museum and Kluge-Ruhe Gallery; and provide a home for the College of Arts and Sciences’ Music Department,” reads a staff report for the December 5 meeting.

The design team is made up of Diamon Schmitt, Selldorf, and VMDO Architects.

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment is from the December 3, 2024 edition of the newsletter. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon. There will be new options in 2025 if you’d like to wait. Just please know I’m glad you’re reading!