Construction of a new building at the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science began in January 2020, with architectural teams from Hopkins Architects, VMDO, and the University’s Office of the Architect leading the project. The guiding philosophy was to create a space that fosters collaboration and promotes sustainability.
Phil Bourne, founding dean of the School of Data Science, emphasized the importance of the building reflecting the university’s culture of excellence, openness, transparency, interdisciplinarity, and community engagement. The building is LEED Gold-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council and features sustainable design elements such as solar panels, vents and windows in individual offices, and active and passive shading systems to reduce the need for artificial lighting.
The facility also includes a wellness area, a lactation space, and all non-gendered restrooms, making it a diverse and inclusive space for all occupants. The construction was made possible in part by a historic $120 million gift from Jaffray Woodriff, a UVA graduate from 1991 and private family foundation championing data science. Woodriff expressed his excitement for the future of the School of Data Science and its impact on expanding field of artificial intelligence.