Construction Begins on UVA’s New Alumni Hall

Construction is officially underway on Aggarwal Hall, a new alumni center for the University of Virginia, marking a major milestone in a project that reimagines how the Alumni Association welcomes, connects, and celebrates its global community. Located on a prominent gateway site, the new building will serve as both a symbolic and functional home for UVA alumni, offering gracious spaces for gathering, events, and collaboration.

“Aggarwal Hall is designed as a place that fosters connection—between people, and between past and future,” said Elizabeth Hedde, AIA, a Principal at Centerbrook and UVA alumna. “Our aim was to create a building that feels unmistakably UVA, while supporting the Alumni Association’s evolving mission to engage graduates and current students alike in meaningful ways.”

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Rising on the site of the former Alumni Hall, the 58,000-square-foot building is conceived as a welcoming threshold to Grounds. Organized around a soaring, sunlit central gallery, the building includes a variety of flexible spaces to support the Association’s expanding programming and day-to-day operations. A library, café, executive meeting rooms, rooftop terrace, and event venues—both indoor and out—will create opportunities for informal meetups, quiet reflection, and large celebrations.

The architecture draws inspiration from the University’s historic fabric, incorporating arches, colonnades, and white trim in a contemporary expression. Brick cladding and broad glass openings with black louvers recall the rhythm and scale of nearby buildings, while modern interiors are warmed with natural materials and daylight.

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“The round central gallery, defined by eight columns, is the building’s physical and metaphorical heart,” added Centerbrook Principal Mark Simon, FAIA. “As Mr. Jefferson’s iconic Rotunda defines The Lawn, we hope that it becomes a treasured gathering place for every Hoo.”

The University celebrated with a ceremonial groundbreaking on September 19th. Aggarwal Hall is expected to open in spring 2027.