Lauren Shirley

VMDO Architects

VMDO has specialized in architectural planning and design for educational institutions since 1976. Our distinctive educational projects and personalized service are based on an in-depth understanding of our clients' needs and aspirations. In our office, in our collaborations, and in our response to the need for a healthier populace and planet, we believe an emphasis on quality design can transform a place and elevate the connections within it. From our offices in Charlottesville, Virginia and Washington, DC, we create community-centered environments that connect people and place through design. We strive to elevate the human experience and the long-term stewardship of our planet by emphasizing the spirit of a place through quality and enduring architecture, sustainable design objectives, sensitivity to sites and landscapes, and design transformations that embody a community's highest ambitions. Our 75+ employees support the firm's 3 educational design practice areas of K12 Schools, Higher Education, and Athletics + Community. VMDO's designs have achieved international and national acclaim from a variety of societies and associations, including: the American Institute of Architects' Committee on Architecture for Education (AIA CAE), the Society for College and University Planners (SCUP), and sequential awards in 2016, 2017, and 2018 from the Association of College Unions International (ACUI). Our commitment to sustainability is evidenced by receipt in 2010 and 2017 of Top Ten AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) awards – considered the industry's premier accolade for sustainable design.