About Darden - Charlottesville
Student Housing Project - Charlottesville - About Darden
Student Housing Project
The new student housing will allow Darden to eventually house up to 80% of First Year Full-Time MBA students on Grounds.
Exciting New Endeavor on Darden Grounds
The $150 million student housing project is one part of Darden’s dynamic Master Plan, which includes key components designed to enrich student experience; enhance student and faculty collaboration and research; modernize facilities; and assist in the recruitment and retention of students, faculty and staff.
When completed, the student housing project will add 218 units and 350 beds across two buildings. Units will primarily be one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with studios and three-bedroom apartments. One building will be constructed on the space between Wilkinson Courtyard and the Darden parking garage, while the second will be located just behind the Abbott Center.
This housing is about much more than just creating a place to live. It’s about increasing and improving the student experience.
Housing Project Impact on Darden Grounds
We appreciate your patience as our student housing project progresses. During the construction, there may be some changes to building access, parking, and event management. Frequently asked questions about the project and its impact can be found below.
Parking & Access to Academic Buildings
- Where can I park?
Parking is available in the same locations as previously, the D-10 Garage and the D-1 Faculty Lot. The Darden Garage will remain open throughout the Construction Project. Egress plans will change as the project progresses. A permit is still required to park on Darden Grounds. ADA parking does not require a UVA permit but does require an official state-issued ADA tag or license plate. These spaces have been relocated from the D-10 Garage to spaces on Darden Boulevard and in the D-1 Faculty lot.
- What is the best pedestrian access to Abbott and The Forum Hotel?
Please consult the Egress Plan to ensure you understand how to access buildings around Grounds. For your safety and the safety of others please take your time, drive carefully, walk the egress paths, and pay attention to your surroundings.
- How do I receive or make a delivery? Where and when those can happen?
The Loading Dock will be accessible from 7am to 6pm Monday through Friday. The loading dock is only for vendors making deliveries or those who have official business requiring use of the loading dock. We recommend minor pick-ups or deliveries be done as is possible at the front of Saunders Hall or at the Faculty Building parking lot. Please reach out to Director of Facilities Rachel Dudzik or Associate Director of Facilities and Sustainability Coordinator Chris Heilman with any questions you may have about use of the loading dock.
- What will access look like at the end of the project? How will I get to the garage?
When the new Residential Housing buildings are completed, access to the garage will be provided through the breezeways that will run through the building located between the Abbott Center and Library and the Darden Garage. These breezeways are open-air paths through the building and will not provide access to the student residences. For the safety and security of our students, all entry doors to this building (which provide entry to residence areas) will not be accessible unless you are a student living in the building. Residents will be granted access via their UVA IDs.
- What kind of disruptions will take place and how will I know about them?
There will be disruptions through the course of the project. Some of them will be in the form of new egress routes, some will be noise related, some will be the visual disruption of our beautiful Grounds, and some will be related to utilities function. We will do our best to manage these thoughtfully, with all stakeholders in mind. The project team meets weekly to discuss “the two-week look ahead." We will update the community on impacts via the Darden Community Newsletter, distributed biweekly via email. If further communication is needed, we will also use the Construction Update email from the Darden Facilities Office. There may be some unforeseen disruptions that crop up, and we will inform you as soon as we are able.
- Will this project alter Reunion or Graduation events?
Reunion will be altered only from an egress perspective, moving from the Darden Academic Buildings to The Forum Hotel. Please consult the latest egress plan. Graduation ADA parking will be in the Darden Faculty Parking Lot. The Sherwood Frey Picnic location will also move to Duffy Field, located between the entry and exit roads in and out of Darden on Duffy Boulevard.
Additional Information
- For Executive Education Participants: Please note that information about how to reach your classroom space and/or any other space on Grounds needed for your course will be provided by your program manager.
- For Prospective Students: We're happy to have you visit Darden Grounds! Please be aware that construction may affect your access to certain buildings and parking areas, but your point of contact for your event should have full details available.
- For Alumni: Leave your legacy at Darden! Name a space in our new student housing complex and play a vital role in shaping the future of the Darden community. Learn more.
If you have questions not answered here, please contact Rachel Dudzik.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Start of Darden Student Housing Project
A ceremonial groundbreaking celebrated the pending start of construction on a project that will provide on-Grounds housing for Darden students and further enrich the School experience. Read more about the Student Housing Project, its goals and its impact on future MBAs.