Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Mary Washington Selects Builder for New Theater, Dance Facility

  • By Matt Jones
  • 10/08/26

The University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va., recently announced that it has selected construction and development firm Skanska to lead a series of renovations and upgrades to fine arts facilities, according to a news release.

The centerpiece of the project is the new construction of a 68,230-square-foot theater featuring a 293-seat performance hall; it also encompasses about 82,000 square feet of renovations to existing fine arts buildings and an almost 9,000-sqaure-foot addition, the release reports.

“We're proud to begin our partnership with the University of Mary Washington by helping to bring these important and improved facilities to life for the students and faculty who will use them for years to come,” said Mark Balling, executive vice president of Skanska’s Mid-Atlantic building operations. “Active construction takes careful sequencing, and our team’s deep expertise will allow us to deliver all portions of the project without interrupting the campus community.”

The various site improvements to existing buildings include HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and life-safety system upgrades, as well as upgrades to building circulation, acoustic isolation, and art studio exhaust safety. Other work will include new arrival and drop-off spaces, new outdoor academic and program spaces, accessibility improvements for both vehicle access and pedestrians, and new service areas, the news release reports.

According to the university website, the full scope of the project has an estimated budget of $163 million coming from funds awarded in the 2022–23 state budget.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • Rethinking K-12 Schools as a Continuous Learning Experience

    Most students move through three or more separate facilities during their K-12 journey, yet the built environments they encounter at each stage have traditionally been designed in isolation, with little continuity in spatial language, learning philosophy, or physical resources. Each new school is a reset with different layouts, learning models, expectations, and ways of moving through a building. The next generation of school design is making the case that the first day of kindergarten and the last day of high school can and should feel connected through common support systems and infrastructure in the physical environment.

  • Minnesota District Converts Middle School into Community Hub

    White Bear Lake Area Schools in White Bear Lake, Minn., recently announced the end of a major renovation project that converted a former middle school into a new centralized district and community hub, according to a news release.