JMU's Gifford Hall receives a "Dormy Award"

James Madison University's Gifford Hall has been recognized by DormSplash.com as having one of the best residence halls in the country. Click here to find out what the Best 14 Dorms in the Country, Worst 14 Dorms in the Country, 14 Biggest Party Dorms in the Country, 14 Schools with the Best Dorms, 14 Dorms with the Hottest Residents, and 14 Schools with the Best RAs.

VMDO-designed schools featured in Great Schools by Design video

Manassas Park High School and Cougar Elementary School, both located in Manassas Park, Virginia, were featured in a video developed by Great Schools by Design.

Great Schools by Design is a national initiative of the American Architectural Foundation (AAF) that seeks to improve the quality of America’s schools and the communities they serve by promoting collaboration, excellence, and innovation in school design.

Throughout the country, Great Schools by Design engages superintendents, architects, teachers, parents, residents, students, local government officials, and other stakeholders in a far-reaching conversation about what must be done to improve the places where children and young adults learn. We strive to help create schools that both support student achievement and serve as centers of community.

To watch the video, click here.

Tidewater Community College Chesapeake | Student Center

VMDO begins Programming + Pre Design for TCC Chesapeake's New Student Center. 

While many students are taking a summer break, some faculty and student will return to campus for summer extracurricular work. Beginning June 16th, VMDO's design team will meet with student organization leaders and faculty to program the campus' first new building in more than a decade. The new Student Center, scheduled for completion in 2011, will accommodate students activities that range from lounge, meeting and study - to recreation, retail and child-minding. To visit the project website, click here.

Poquoson Elementary School honored for sustainability

The new Poquoson Elementary School in Poquoson, Virginia, has been recognized for its environmentally sensitive design. The 80,000 square foot building, which replaces a facility that was more than 50 years old, has already received the James River Green Building Council "Go Green" Design Merit Award and the Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI) Design Concept Award. District officials in Poquoson, Virginia, are pursuing a gold LEED rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Green features of the new school include a high-efficiency geothermal heating and cooling system; natural lighting and integrated dimmer systems; and water-conserving plumbing. The surrounding 22 acres include newly created wetlands that will serve as learning laboratories. They will also be accessible to local citizens via paths from the west after hours and on weekends.

To learn more about the project, 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

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.

Clarke County High School

Click on the link below to view the presentation made to the Clarke County School Board on December 18, 2006.

Download 984_school_board121806.pdf

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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.

New Wrestling Center Helps Cougars Win State Title

Congratulations to the Cougars, who won their third straight Group A state wrestling championship on Mar. 4. The win further solidifies an impressive record for the team; this is the ninth state wrestling championship title overall for Manassas Park City Schools.

This season, the Cougars benefited from significantly improved conditions in which to train and compete, with the completion of their new wrestling facility designed by VMDO. The wrestling center is equipped with upgraded HVAC and is more spacious, brighter, and comfortable. Located on the Manassas Park High School and Middle School campus, it becomes the legitimate home dedicated to the training of the wrestling team.

Construction work continues on the third phase of Manassas Park Middle School, a comprehensive rebuilding of the school by VMDO at the campus it shares with Manassas Park High School. The Middle School is still open and functioning, as the students and administration patiently await for the construction to be complete, which is expected in the winter of 2007.

The second phase of work, a new gymnasium, opened last month.