History
Founding of the Scope
The idea of a center that would promote an appreciation of diversity - its enrichment of the University of Virginia, its implications for our country and world, its advantages, and its challenges has been raised periodically at U.Va. over the last 30 years. During that time the Office of African American Affairs; the Women's Center; the International Center and Office of International Studies; services for Asian Pacific American, Latino and Hispanic students, and American Indian students; services to students with disabilities; and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center were established.
As the University has moved from basic issues of access to the development of services and support for historically underrepresented groups, there has been a growing interest in identifying a place that encourages intercultural discourse where students and faculty of all backgrounds can share what they know and learn together. The Class of 1996 created the idea of a Center for Cultural Fluency and with their class gift set aside funding for its eventual development. The need for a center was reinforced by a task force in 1997-98 and by subsequent discussions about the future expansion of Newcomb Hall, often including a recommendation for a multicultural center. In 2002-2003 the Minority Rights Coalition proposed the renovation of Newcomb's Informal Lounge to create a Diversity Resource Center as a safe and empowering space for minority students and an educational hub for the whole University.
Now with the support of the Vice President for Student Affairs and a partnership among the Class of 1996, Student Council, the Minority Rights Coalition, the University Programs Council, the Office of African American Affairs, International Studies, the Office of Student Life, and Newcomb Hall, the vision of many has become a reality.
The Design
The idea to create a place in Newcomb Hall that would challenge and support the community in exploring our similarities and differences was conceived by Ryan McCarthy (CLAS '03) and Micah Schwartz (CLAS '03).
The vision for the renovation was created through a community design process. Ben Blanchard, a graduate student in the School of Architecture and a team of undergraduate architecture students including: Thomas Cheung, Catalina Curiel, Jeremy Maloney, Kirsten Snobeck, and Alex Walker, translated the community vision into a conceptual design.
Ben worked under the guidance of Eugenio Schettini and Amy Forbes from the UVa Facilities Management Design Group to take the conceptual design to working drawings. Project Manager Bob Thompson from UVa Facilities Management Renovations is leading the construction effort.
From concept to completion the new space will be the result of the University community working together to translate what was once a bold idea into a reality in 15 months.
The design process itself reflects the type of community collaboration the new space will foster.