Meet this Green Building: Contemplative Commons

One of the newest buildings on Grounds, the Contemplative Commons is among the most distinctive buildings at UVA. What sets it apart from other sustainable buildings is its unique design and its compelling mission: striking a balance between academics and contemplation. The Commons is home to the Contemplative Sciences Center, whose mission is to “advance the study of human flourishing across all levels of education.” To this end, the Commons serves as a peaceful stop for UVA students to pause from the ever-increasing business of their schedule and take a moment to find serenity in the world around them. The Commons cultivates this reflective nature through a biophilic design. The building is strikingly spacious, with outdoor walkways and a large central courtyard surrounded by tall timber pillars reminiscent of timber trees.  

The Commons also sits directly next to the serene Dell pond, bringing wildlife and reflective sunlight to the courtyard’s study areas. These architectural choices are intended to cultivate a feeling of being both indoors and outdoors, connecting students with nature, a strong source of tranquility and contemplation. These and many other design decisions helped the Contemplative Commons achieve LEED Gold certification this past February. But what does being LEED certified mean?

LEED Certification

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is overseen by the U.S. Green Building Council, and is the most widely recognized rating system for green buildings. To achieve certification, buildings undergo a thorough evaluation that covers every part of the building. Everything from energy efficiency and light pollution reduction to rainwater management, accessible design, and biodiversity preservation earns points for a building's certification. LEED has four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, each with a point threshold requirement. Since 2007, the UVA Board of Visitors has required that every newly constructed building achieve LEED certification. To learn more about green buildings at UVA, the Green Buildings at UVA 101 blog dives into UVA Green Building Standards and introduces this new series.

Buildings are one of the main contributors to the University’s greenhouse gas footprint, so LEED certification for buildings on Grounds, with the UVA Green Building Standards, is crucial to achieving UVA’s sustainability goals. But not every LEED-certified building is the same, and there are several things that make the Contemplative Commons a uniquely green building. 

What is Unique about the Commons

Heart Pine Flooring

Heart pine flooring is a unique material that is used in several rooms in the Contemplative Commons. Heart pine is a type of wood that typically comes from the center of fully mature pine trees. Unfortunately, mature pine trees have been harvested to extinction throughout American history. A better way to source heart pine is through the reclamation of lumber from old docks, barns, or sunken logs. The lumber used for the Commons was sourced from a large deposit of sunken heart pine logs roughly 200 years old in the Gulf of Mexico. This deposit came about because heart pine logs were used as rafts to transport goods down the Mississippi River in the 19th century, and it was easier to let them sink than try to reuse them to transport goods upstream.  

Sarita Herman, the Contemplative Commons Project Manager, recounted that construction actually faced a short delay because a large sturgeon migration made the sunken logs inaccessible for a time.  

Heart pine was chosen because it was one of the most prominent materials used in UVA’s historic Academic Village, creating a connection to the university’s past. While the use of reclaimed heart pine did not contribute to the LEED certification, it is a strong display of UVA’s commitment to sustainability and mindful construction.

Water Management

Water conservation was identified as a major priority early in the project due to the Commons’ neighbor, the Dell. The Dell is a crucial stormwater management system for the university, so careful measures were taken to preserve its functionality. The primary strategy is the water capture system implemented in the Contemplative Commons, namely a large cistern, hidden underneath the Commons’ western lawn, constructed to capture the water runoff from the roof of the building. This water is then diverted into the irrigation system, which waters all of the raised planters on the third floor. Any leftover water is then directed into the Newcomb Road Chiller Plant near Shannon Library to be used to generate chilled water for cooling buildings. The water capture system helps preserve the Dell’s role in stormwater management while contributing to water efficiency and sustainable site LEED points.  

Circulation

In this context, circulation refers to the Commons’ open, spacious design that blends nature and traditional architecture with sustainability. The Contemplative Commons’ strong intentional relationship with its surroundings led to a prevalent use of bird-safe windows to capture the serene views of the Dell. Gwen Murray, the LEED consultant for the project, explained that the Commons earned all the LEED points for daylighting thanks to the high levels of light provided by its plentiful windows. She noted that this is uncommon for most projects. The open courtyard also improved the building’s energy efficiency, decreasing the number of common spaces that needed to be air-conditioned. 

What Students are Saying

When asked about her thoughts on the Contemplative Commons, Delilah DeMark, a fourth-year Youth and Innovation student, said,

 “I love how the Contemplative Commons has so much outdoor seating. When it’s warm out, my favorite place to eat lunch or study is on the first level facing the Dell.”

When first touring the Contemplative Commons, Gavin Crigger, a fourth-year Computer Science student, expressed that

 "...the one thing that I couldn't get over was how the building blurs the lines between outdoors and indoors. It makes for such a relaxing study spot, especially with all of the windows, and I find myself forgetting that it's next to such a busy road because of its unique architecture, keeping the bustle out.” 

Check it Out

As an engineering student, at first, I considered the Contemplative Commons nice-looking, but thought it might be an inefficient use of space. However, after learning more about the building, I appreciate its unique design and amenities and how they support the important practice of contemplation and relaxation.  

But don’t just take my word for it; the easiest way to meet this green building is by enjoying everything it has to offer! Feeling stressed? Drop in to a fifteen-minute meditation session facing the Dell. Feeling like exercising? Drop in to an Ashtanga yoga session. Want to learn something new? Drop in to one of the many diverse special events offered every week. All of these activities and more can be found on the Contemplative Sciences Center website. The Contemplative Commons is one of the newest sustainable buildings on Grounds and serves as a reminder to reconnect with the simplicity of nature.