University of Virginia Advances New Building Plans on Emmet-Ivy Corridor
In a move to enhance academic and entrepreneurial initiatives, the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors’ Buildings and Grounds Committee recently examined the schematic design for a new School of Data Science Entrepreneurship Building. This project, situated on the Emmet-Ivy Corridor, aims to foster innovative research and collaboration.
After granting initial approval in June, the board is moving forward with a design that will complement the existing School of Data Science. The new building will feature a courtyard on the ground level and an upper-level bridge to seamlessly connect both structures.
Architect Alice Raucher highlighted the strategic location of the site, emphasizing its potential to support “broad, collaborative research and entrepreneurial endeavors both within the school and across the Grounds.”
The planned five-story building will include various classroom, research, and seminar spaces, reflecting the architectural style of nearby structures.
Raucher mentioned, “All the buildings on the Emmet-Ivy Corridor have been designed with a transparent, welcoming ground floor to connect interior public spaces with the exterior pedestrian promenade to create a safe, active district.”
Board Approves Fontaine Research Data Center Design
In addition to the data science building, the board approved the schematic design for the Fontaine Research Data Center at the Fontaine Research Park. This comes after the board’s endorsement of the park’s master plan in 2018, which included projects like the Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology, a parking garage, roadway improvements, and the Central Energy Plant.
The Fontaine Research Data Center was initially conceived as a two-story computing facility for academic purposes. However, the UVA Health University Medical Center has since decided to also utilize the space for its data center, resulting in the addition of another floor.
The new data center will be strategically located adjacent to the “zero-combustion” Central Energy Plant, underscoring the university’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure development.
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