The newly opened University Arts Building earned several awards and honors for its design from architecture groups across the country for its design.

"These regional and national awards herald the superior design and creative architecture of our new University Arts Building," said Debra Moddelmog, dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Nevada, Reno. "They emphasize that the building is not only world-class in terms of how it serves the arts but also aesthetically stunning both inside and out."
Recently, the project has been recognized with:

• Honor Award in Architecture category from American Institute of Architects (AIA) Cleveland
• Merit Award in the Newly Completed Project category from AIA Ohio
• Merit Award in the Built: Commercial Architecture category from AIA Nevada
• Award of Merit in the Higher Education/Research category from ENR (Engineering News-Record) Southwest - Best Projects

The building enhances and elevates the education, creation and presentation of the arts on campus, as well as throughout the Northern Nevada community.

The $35.5 million, nearly 42,500-square-foot building opened in February after close to two years of construction. Architecture firm DLR Group | Westlake Reed Leskosky led the design, while Q&D Construction Inc. was the contractor.

The three-story facility includes a 287-seat recital hall, art museum, 3-D digital fabrication lab, electroacoustic composition lab, soundproof rehearsal spaces, music practice rooms, music faculty teaching studios and a recording studio. It was designed to create opportunities for collaborations between disciplines as well as to allow passersby to glimpse the artistic processes and creative activity inside as they walk through the heart of the University campus.

"After such a strong partnership with the University during the design process to create a world-class acoustic environment for music, a state-of-the-art facility for viewing and exploring the visual arts, and a highly sustainable building, it's an incredible feeling to be recognized by our peers for design excellence," said Dennis Bree, Culture+Performing Arts Design Lead for DLR Group. "These design awards are a testament to the commitment of providing the best student learning environment with every decision made on the project."

The AIA Nevada Design Awards Jury noted: "We all agreed that this addition is simply a wonderful solution, tying harmoniously to the existing one story [sic] structure, utilizing similar materials and forms, yet opening up to new program space as the addition steps down the site."

"It is not at all surprising the design of our new University Arts Building is winning awards – anyone that has had the opportunity to experience the visual and performing arts within it know what an incredibly special building it is," said Tamara Scronce, director of the School of the Arts.

The School of the Arts presents the Performing Arts Series, Reno Jazz Festival and Lake Tahoe Music Camp as well as world-class visual art exhibitions, musical performances, theatre productions, dance concerts and public arts events presented by the departments of Art, Music, and Theatre and Dance. The school's degree programs provide a strong foundation in a range of artistic disciplines, enabling students to contribute as artists, scholars and educators at the local level and beyond. Finally, the School, as well as the College of Liberal Arts in which it is located, encourages broad campus and community participation in the arts through its numerous performances, lectures, exhibitions, core courses and outreach activities that explore diverse cultures and encourage lifelong learning.