Stories
UVA McIntire School of Commerce Expansion
UVA McIntire School of Commerce Expansion | Charlottesville, VA
The University of Virginia (UVA) aimed to create a student-centric, functional/flexible, and inclusive/inviting environment when it expanded the McIntire School of Commerce complex. Blending history and innovation, the expansion included a new, state-of-the-art academic facility, providing students and educators with versatile spaces for collaboration and idea sharing.
Partners
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Client University of Virginia
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Design Team Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP
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Design Team Glavé & Holmes Architecture
Project Details
UVA prioritized rethinking physical spaces for students and faculty to thrive with the School of Commerce expansion. DPR led the construction of Robert A.M. Stern Architects and Glavé & Holmes Architecture’s designs for the renovation of the historic Cobb Hall and the new build of Shumway Hall—delivering leading-edge learning spaces uniting tradition and innovation.
In the heart of UVA’s busy and historic Grounds, the project included:
- Renovating the 23,000-sq.-ft., four-story wing of 1917 Cobb Hall
- Constructing Shumway Hall; a new five-story, 86,200-sq.-ft. facility
- Converting a vehicular drive into a pedestrian corridor with handicapped accessibility
- Building a new service tunnel connecting/serving Commerce School buildings, including the existing Rouss-Robertson Hall
Cobb Hall now features contemporary cluster classrooms, a production studio, and a double-height solarium. Shumway Hall features flex classrooms, innovation labs and a Student Success Center designed to encourage cross-disciplinary collaborations across Grounds. Connecting the buildings is an exterior courtyard for gatherings/events. The project consolidates academic advising, student life and career development into one location.
Driving safe, seamless delivery at the heart of Grounds
- Partnered with local trade partners to strengthen safety programs and align site-wide accountability
- Participated in UVA Safety Roundtables to share best practices across multiple contractors
- Implemented digital onboarding through HAMMERTECH to ensure consistent training and compliance
- Conducted daily safety inspections to proactively identify and resolve hazards for a workforce of up to 230 tradespeople
- Managed complex logistics near the medical center, maintaining traffic flow and minimizing disruption through off-hour work and clear detours
- Sequenced tunnel excavation to protect existing utilities using hand digging, phased excavation and lagging shoring systems
Challenging Site Logistics
Maintaining Utility Infrastructure
Early site reviews revealed a high-voltage power line beneath the new building footprint, requiring relocation. With limited options, the team kept the line under the new foundation—placing it on the critical path. They pulled 300 feet of new feeders, transferred power, and demolished the original duct bank before excavation, coordinating with UVA’s Energy and Utilities group to complete the work over winter break and avoid disruption.
Optimizing Tunnel Construction
A service tunnel was planned to connect the Rouss-Robertson building to a new loading dock, replacing the old delivery zone and enabling the first ADA-compliant path to the south of Grounds. Working together the team creatively and cost effectively reviewed constructability and devised alternative plans to change the tie-in point, including relocating and reconfiguring piping, significantly reducing the tunnel length and excavation by 50%.
Photo: Courtesy of the University of Virginia
Combining Shoring Solutions
With six feet between buildings, scaffolding was not feasible with shoring in place. Completing Cobb’s exterior first enabled safe, efficient excavation of the 2.4-acre site. With tight sight logistics, excavation required four types of protection, including wood lagging, a Groundforce Mega brace hydraulic bracing system, concrete secant piles, and traditional underpinning.
Connecting to Grounds
A 30-foot slope drop was transformed into a welcoming new South Entrance and Breeden Commons. Designed for ADA compliance and seamlessly integrating with the historic Grounds, landscaped pathways contain seating and include ADA standards for handrail dimensions for hidden exterior pathway lights.
Challenging
Site Logistics
Maintaining Utility Infrastructure
Early site reviews revealed a high-voltage power line beneath the new building footprint, requiring relocation. With limited options, the team kept the line under the new foundation—placing it on the critical path. They pulled 300 feet of new feeders, transferred power, and demolished the original duct bank before excavation, coordinating with UVA’s Energy and Utilities group to complete the work over winter break and avoid disruption.
Optimizing Tunnel Construction
A service tunnel was planned to connect the Rouss-Robertson building to a new loading dock, replacing the old delivery zone and enabling the first ADA-compliant path to the south of Grounds. Working together the team creatively and cost effectively reviewed constructability and devised alternative plans to change the tie-in point, including relocating and reconfiguring piping, significantly reducing the tunnel length and excavation by 50%.
Photo: Courtesy of the University of Virginia
Combining Shoring Solutions
With six feet between buildings, scaffolding was not feasible with shoring in place. Completing Cobb’s exterior first enabled safe, efficient excavation of the 2.4-acre site. With tight sight logistics, excavation required four types of protection, including wood lagging, a Groundforce Mega brace hydraulic bracing system, concrete secant piles, and traditional underpinning.
Connecting to Grounds
A 30-foot slope drop was transformed into a welcoming new South Entrance and Breeden Commons. Designed for ADA compliance and seamlessly integrating with the historic Grounds, landscaped pathways contain seating and include ADA standards for handrail dimensions for hidden exterior pathway lights.
Utilizing Technology In the Field
Digital Tools, Historic Constraints
Cobb Hall’s original decking used hollow terracotta tiles with poured concrete, which were found to be sagging in some areas reducing ceiling clearance by up to eight inches. After demolition, the DPR team laser scanned the exposed structure and reworked the layout of mechanical and tech systems to maintain as much ceiling height as possible—especially in cluster classrooms where large historic windows had to balance modern HVAC, lighting, and AV.
Model-based Coordination
In Shumway Hall, MEP and telecom systems typically routed through the ceiling, required a different approach to maintain the high-end design and curved architectural features of the new building. Key telecom infrastructure pathways were rerouted underground. This change impacted the sequencing of work, as it required coordination with under slab utilities before the slab-on-grade was poured. Identifying and addressing this early the team was able to adjust and implement the change effectively in the field.
Utilizing Technology
In the Field
Digital Tools, Historic Constraints
Cobb Hall’s original decking used hollow terracotta tiles with poured concrete, which were found to be sagging in some areas reducing ceiling clearance by up to eight inches. After demolition, the DPR team laser scanned the exposed structure and reworked the layout of mechanical and tech systems to maintain as much ceiling height as possible—especially in cluster classrooms where large historic windows had to balance modern HVAC, lighting, and AV.
Model-based Coordination
In Shumway Hall, MEP and telecom systems typically routed through the ceiling, required a different approach to maintain the high-end design and curved architectural features of the new building. Key telecom infrastructure pathways were rerouted underground. This change impacted the sequencing of work, as it required coordination with under slab utilities before the slab-on-grade was poured. Identifying and addressing this early the team was able to adjust and implement the change effectively in the field.
Blending Traditional and Modern Design
Preserving the Solarium Skylight
Replicating the original skylight in Cobb Hall without altering the roof was a design goal. To meet the goal, the team designed a modern LED laylight in the Solarium to emulate the 1917 skylight. Original beadboard was salvaged and refurbished, blending historic charm with modern upgrades creating a multifunctional space for quite study or small gatherings.
Functional and Flexible
Every space was designed for adaptability, with advanced AV systems, strong Wi-Fi, and adaptable lighting controls for diverse teaching styles. The Grand classroom in Shumway Hall boasts an architectural partition used to create a flexible space that can be reconfigured as single or dual classrooms or opened into an event space, with lighting and AV automatically adjusting for the selected environment.
Cobb Hall was transformed from dark offices/labs into intimate lecture spaces that retain traditional elements like blackboards while accommodating group work.
Historic Character with Modern Efficiency
To preserve the historic character of Cobb Hall while improving energy efficiency, storm windows with radiant heat panels were installed on the interior of the original single-pane windows—achieving modern performance without altering the building’s exterior appearance.
Blending
Traditional and Modern Design
Preserving the Solarium Skylight
Replicating the original skylight in Cobb Hall without altering the roof was a design goal. To meet the goal, the team designed a modern LED laylight in the Solarium to emulate the 1917 skylight. Original beadboard was salvaged and refurbished, blending historic charm with modern upgrades creating a multifunctional space for quite study or small gatherings.
Functional and Flexible
Every space was designed for adaptability, with advanced AV systems, strong Wi-Fi, and adaptable lighting controls for diverse teaching styles. The Grand classroom in Shumway Hall boasts an architectural partition used to create a flexible space that can be reconfigured as single or dual classrooms or opened into an event space, with lighting and AV automatically adjusting for the selected environment.
Cobb Hall was transformed from dark offices/labs into intimate lecture spaces that retain traditional elements like blackboards while accommodating group work.
Historic Character with Modern Efficiency
To preserve the historic character of Cobb Hall while improving energy efficiency, storm windows with radiant heat panels were installed on the interior of the original single-pane windows—achieving modern performance without altering the building’s exterior appearance.
The project of renovating historic Cobb Hall and constructing the new Shumway Hall and Breeden Commons constitutes one of the most challenging projects that we have had in the last 20 years ... that progressed so well. There was just a quiet, confident approach to the job at hand.
Timothy Roland, Associate Director for Academic and UVA Health Construction
University of Virginia
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