VMDO Architects participates in AIA Central Virginia's 2010 Architecture Week

VMDO Architects was proud to be a sponsor of AIA Central Virginia's Architecture Week this year. Alloy Workshop's Dam Zimmerman and VMDO's Elizabeth Rhodes organized a jam-packed week full of events that brought together design professionals and the public to celebrate excellence, innovation and leadership within the architectural community.

This year's events included: OLIO night 7; a mural on the community chalk board; a lecture with Roxanne Sherbeck of BC+J Architects in Pittsburgh; a city market design charrette; a panel deiscuusion from the local Women in Design group; a day all about urban farming; and an architectural film festival! For more information, click here.

Many of VMDO's staff helped organize or facilitate events of Architecture Week 2010: Jim Richardson and Justin Walton presented their ideas and perspective as emerging architects at OLIO 7; Kim Smith organized the WiD group's panel discussion at the University of Virginia's School of Architecture and Dina Sorensen pulled together a small film festival which included the award-winning film Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Schulman and the international film Koohass Houselife.

Year after year, we at VMDO are grateful and pleased that so many members of our family take part in Architecture Week's events as leaders within our architectural community.

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine kicks off "Smart Grid" Network on Charlottesville's Historic Downtown Mall

On June 15, 2009, Governor Tim Kaine declared Charlottesville "Virginia's first city in Dominion Virginia Power's 'Smart Grid' Network". The initiative's primary objectives are to conserve power and lower electric bills. To read the full article published in the C-ville Weekly, click here.

Old Bell Rings Again in Crozet

Students in Crozet are ringing in the new school year, but this time-- it's making history.

That's because Wednesday was the first time in 15-years Crozet Elementary School rang an old bell outside the school.

Last year, students from Henley Middle School raised $1,000 to have the bell restored.

Now, it'll sound every morning at 7:55 am.

Click here to watch the newscast.

VMDO Architects gives back to the community

VMDO Architects and Barton Malow Company have donated services for the design and installation of a historic school bell at Albemarle County's Crozet Elementary School.  The bell, which once announced the start of school at the original Crozet facility, was donated to the school by the Sandridge family of Crozet.  Crozet teacher Paula White and parent Kellyann Rayle were instrumental in orchestrating the bell's return to the school.

Ken Thacker, a Crozet resident and Associate Principal at VMDO, is a parent of two Crozet Elementary students.  Chris Weatherford grew up in Crozet and is a Project Manager for Barton Malow.  Ken and Chris, who once worked together at VMDO, are heading the pro bono efforts for their respective firms.  Ken identified the appropriate location to hang the bell and designed the necessary supports, with the help of structural engineer Clive Fox of Fox + Associates.  Chris is arranging and supervising the construction work, which is expected to be complete in time for the first day of classes this Fall.

Crozet Elementary School was designed by VMDO and opened in 1991.  The project garnered awards from the local and state chapters of the American Institute of Architects, as well as The Virginia School Board Association.  VMDO also designed a classroom addition to this school in the mid-90's.  VMDO is proud to have been a part of the life of this school for eighteen years.

To read more about this story, click here

VMDO Architects teams with Habitat with Humanity

Working with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville to help build a better community, VMDO interns are providing architectural services to provide multi-family housing in Charlottesville, Virginia. The two duplexes are slated to break ground this fall as part of a ten family development on Paton Street, near Cherry Avenue (adjacent to last years Builders Blitz site). Daylight and natural ventilation were key factors of the design, striving to provide comfortable living, at a relaxed budget, vaulted ceilings, and reclaimed spaces make for a unique living experience. Check in from time to time to follow the progress of construction and contact Habitat for Humanity to get involved!

Charlottesville announces Market Value Design Competition

The City of Charlottesville, Virginia has announced that it is sponsoring Market Value, a design competition that will help the city proactively investigate and establish the best alternatives for downtown development.  Registration begins on June 21, 2007 and final submissions must be delivered by September 14, 2007.  To learn more about the contest, please visit http://www.marketvaluecompetition.org.

AIA Week Film Festival

As part of AIA Week in April, Dina Sorensen of VMDO Architects has organized a week-long film festival in Charlottesville to mark the 150th anniversary of the American Institute of Architecture. It is just one of many events around town during the week-long festival. The program will feature Robert Smithson’s Spiral Jetty, Sheds by Jane Crawford and Robert Fiore, and two Peter Greenaway shorts: Windows and H is for House.

OFFscreen has also worked with VMDO Architects in this week of events, and Our Daily Bread will be the final film that week. For more information on the week's schedule please visit the AIA's Central Virginia events site.

Architecture in the Schools

On Friday, April 6th, the Central Virginia AIA will open Architecture week with an exhibit of 150 years of Architecture in Central Virginia.  In preparation for their part in the exhibit, the students of Charlottesville Elementary School's c.l.a.s.s. program are submitting their votes for the project most needed in our community.

In conjunction with City & Albemarle planning staff, UVA Architecture school students, and Charlottesville Architects & Landscape Architects, six elementary school design teams will develop their dream project in a 3-day work session April 10th, 11th &12th.

March 30th - the polls are still open......but the early results from Burnley Moran Elementary School show the Recycle Center as a favorite.

April 2nd - the results are in from Johnson Elementary. Voters show a strong interest in the Race Track - - but overall - - the Recycle Center remains in the lead. 

April 3rd - The  polls are closed, and with the Venable Elementary's voters numbers tallied, it appears that the leading  project the Recycle Center has been upset. 

Voters have chosen the ZOO. 

April 10th - Venable & Greenbrier students lead planners to concluded that the site at Pen Park would serve the zoo animals and the community better than the downtown site between Water and Second Streets. They reviewed issues such as transportation, resource conservation, zoning & neighborhood concerns and decided that the elephants & monkeys would enjoy a more natural setting.

Intern development

On December 7, 2006 - Kenneth Schwartz, FAIA NCARB Committee Chair & Ellen Cathey, Associate Dean of Students at University of Virginia invited VMDO’s architectural interns to participate in an informal review of the Emerging Professionals Companion. The EPC is a web-based resource developed by the AIA in 2004 to provide a “a comprehensive professional development tool for emerging architecture professionals.”

Testing new technology has been a hallmark of VMDO’s development – from leading the way beta testing of Masterspec and Datacad software in the early 1980’s, to utilizing the latest building performance software Ecotect, VMDO is eager to advance our understanding of architecture, and new technologies through our continual learning.

Selling Like Hotcakes!

VMDO's own Kim Thompson is an architect by  day and a handbag designer extraordinaire by night.  Kim designs one of a kind handbags that are fun and fashionable.  Kim Thompson originals are sold on frecklewonder.com, a site that carries great vintage and handmade clothing and accessories. Check out her latest fashions at frecklewonder.com.