Located in downtown Charlottesville with the original YMCA building as its office, VMDO Architects, P.C. has a great vision for its latest project: the University’s new multipurpose arena.

The local architectural firm won the commission for the design of the new arena this past weekend, and, over the next few weeks, will work on getting a team together for the project. According to Robert Moje, VMDO Architects’ principal, one of the first things the firm will do is clear out the room that was once the YMCA gym and transform it into the “the arena room.” There, all architects and associates involved as well as people from the University can gather and contribute to the project.

“The lights will always be on, of course,” said Moje, referring to the tradition of the University’s School of Architecture.

VMDO recently has completed many successful projects for the University. They include the expansion of the Carl Smith Center and the design of Kl”ckner Stadium. VMDO now is working on the $5 million renovation project for Virginia’s new baseball arena, which is scheduled to be finished by the 2002 spring season.

Because of its extensive experience with the University, “VMDO conveyed uncommon dedication and spirited enthusiasm for the institution and its athletic programs,” the Board of Visitors’ executive committee said in a resolution it released Sunday.

Over two-thirds of VMDO’s staff has at least one degree from the University, making it one of the single largest concentrations of Virginia architecture graduates. The firm, however, believes that its experiences with the University and its traditions have led to its success.

“I think we have a deeper understanding of what it means to build in Mr. Jefferson’s shadow,” Moje said. “Many other architects fail when they come here because they try to copy what Jefferson did. What I’ve learned is that instead, you have to understand the ideas and concepts of Jefferson and what he was trying to represent, and then figure out how that applies to today.”

The philosophy has worked well for VMDO. In addition to projects for the University, the firm has worked on projects for various local K-12 schools and other higher education institutions, including Emory University, Washington & Lee University and Virginia Commonwealth University. The firm’s work frequently has been recognized by the James River Chapter and the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects. VMDO’s designs also have been featured in national publications, including Architecture, Architectural Record, Progressive Architecture, The New York Times and Southern Accents.

For VMDO, the basketball arena project is by far the biggest and most exciting. While nothing is set in stone yet as far as design specifics, VMDO has goals and guidelines that it has established for itself for the arena, which Moje visions will become the University’s “front door.”

For seating arrangements, VMDO is not merely looking at a capacity number, which is estimated to be between 12,000 and 15,000 seats. According to Moje, the goal is to construct seating as close to the basketball floor as possible in order to create an emotional component for a distinct home-court advantage.

“We believe in any athletic event, there’s an emotional interaction between the fans, the players and the action on the court,” Moje said. “In a lot of ways, the architecture is what allows that to happen. We’re creating a stage where the actors and the audience can interact together.”

According to Moje, the science of constructing arena seating has caused existing facilities to have a generic design on their interiors. However, because of the University’s architectural history and traditions, VMDO knows it wants to create a facility that is specific to the University, both inside and out.

The Carl Smith Center was successful because it became “a very special and unique football stadium just for the University,” Moje said. “That is the guiding principle of the arena project. We want the arena to be special, one that lives and breathes the University.”