VMDO has specialized in architectural planning and design since 1976. As an architectural practice founded by a UVA professor and his three best students in 1976, our 70+ employees are connected by a common belief in the power of design to educate, inspire, and uplift. As such, we have focused the entirety of our practice on designing for public, community-oriented institutions and raising the next generation of architects in the mid-Atlantic.

Location and Organization

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 employees support the firm’s 3 educational design practice areas of K12 Schools, Higher Education, and Athletics + Community. We provide internal design resources related to BIM management, visualization/rendering, documentation, specifications writing, and sustainable design expertise which uplift our studios and contribute to best practices at a national level.

Areas of Specialty

VMDO believes good designs are ones that make the world a better place for this and future generations. As architects and global citizens, we have the opportunity – and the responsibility – to challenge conventional thinking, to push ourselves, our consultants, and our clients to achieve more than we think possible, and to demonstrate real and inspiring solutions to the problems we face today.

• We are leaders in designing enduring community spaces;
• We are experts in net-zero energy design, having designed the first LEED Zero school in the world; 
• And, we are solution providers in delivering community environments that support wellbeing and serve as assets.

Honors and Awards

VMDO’s designs have achieved international and national acclaim from a variety of societies and associations, including: the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), the AIA’s Committee on Architecture for Education (AIA CAE), and the Society for College and University Planners (SCUP). 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.

Our Process

Our designs are rooted in how we work. We listen actively, engage thoughtfully, and thrive on collaboration. Our work comes from many voices, and as a result, has broad appeal. Every person who acts on the design approach is responsible for advancing its quality. We prioritize coherence in our design strategies, ingenuity in seeking the most effective value for a project, and resolution through a firmness of purpose and commitment to craft.

We are inspired by conversations with people. We draw strength from the connections and commitments with talented people formed through genuine collaboration. We enjoy the work we do every day and are committed to a collective atmosphere of openness, trust, and respect. Each new project presents us with a chance to learn rigorously and think creatively about new opportunities, and new relationships.

To view more of our work, visit: https://issuu.com/vmdoarchitects