University Architect David Neuman will step down in October to pursue consulting work in California.
Neuman began his post at the University in 2003 and since then has taken on numerous major projects, including the $100 million dollar South Lawn development, the prominent Rotunda renovation, the Arts Grounds facilities and the Emily Couric Cancer Center addition.
Neuman said the diversity of the work is what originally attracted him to the University.
“It was a place that I thought would be interesting and challenging at the same time,” Neuman said, citing the University’s historical roots and its Medical Center as unique challenges for the architect job. “The position as a whole had a lot of options for doing good things and being creative. [It was] a challenge and an opportunity at the same time.”
Before coming to Charlottesville, Neuman served as University Architect and Associate Vice Provost for Planning at Stanford University. Stanford boasts its own medical center and premier spot as a research university, but Neuman, a self-proclaimed “history buff,” said the University’s historical Grounds attracted him to the position.
“Jefferson is both the architect and the founder, [and] this whole cultural heritage is very interesting,” Neuman said. “I like being a part of interpreting it and renewing it.”
The most notable project undertaken during Neuman’s time as University Architect is the renovation of the Rotunda.
“It’s a national landmark and part of a UNESCO heritage site, as well as the symbol of the University,” Neuman said. “[It was] critical to understand what was the appropriate way to approach this in terms of respect for history and respect for traditions [and] making sure that we were doing the best possible job.”
Neuman said he feels confident that he leaves the Rotunda renovations under good management, and he will continue to be involved in the process.
“I’ll stay interested, and certainly have offered to be an email contact or a telephone contact if anything arises,” Neuman said. “I will certainly still be keeping up with U.Va.”
During his time at the University, Neuman has implemented sustainability efforts across Grounds in a number of projects, and has worked with student groups to do so as well.
“That’s one of the things I’m most proud of in my 11 years,” he said. “We’ve come a long way in broadening the idea of sustainability at U.Va. We have two of the three oldest buildings in the country that are LEED certified.”
LEED, which stands for Leader in Energy and Environmental Design, is a building certification program that recognizes and rates sustainable and green building practices.
The University has not yet found a replacement for Neuman, University spokesperson McGregor McCance said.
“Mr. Neuman’s decision was not expected,” McCance said in an email. “As such the process, timetable and details of our next steps have yet to be fully explored. U.Va. is an institution with many significant architectural, culture and land-use assets. Overseeing them appropriately is a tremendous responsibility, and the University plans to proceed in a thoughtful and deliberate manner.”
Neuman will move back to California to work with an architectural resources consulting group in San Francisco and pursue independent work as well. His work will mainly be in historic preservations, he said, making use of “the background I have here in preservation as well as in planning.”
He said the timing of his departure is good, and that he is “ready to make a change.”
“I think I’ll miss friends and colleagues the most,” Neuman said. “I will miss being associated with the World Heritage Site and the Academical Village, [and] I will miss being able to talk to people about why I think this place is so great and why it’s important to the world.”
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