The University Arts Building officially opened at UNR in February 2019, and by December it had earned four national awards and honors for its design.
A Jan. 3 press release from UNR’s College of Liberal Arts listed the accolades:
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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 Project

The University Arts Building’s recital hall seats 287 and was created in consultation with an acoustic designer for optimal sound. Photo: UNR
The $35.5 million, nearly 42,500-square-foot building took almost two years to construct. Architecture firm DLR Group | Westlake Reed Leskosky led the design, and Sparks-based Q&D Construction Inc. was the contractor.

A January panel discussion was among the first events held in the University Arts Building. Photo: Kris Vagner
The building’s John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art opened in January, and the grand opening was in February. The building also includes a 287-seat recital hall, 3D digital fabrication lab, electroacoustic composition lab, soundproof rehearsal spaces, music practice rooms, music faculty teaching studios and a recording studio.
Here’s Double Scoop’s video tour of the Lilley Museum on opening day:
To stay up to date on University Art Building events, follow The Lilley Museum and UNR’s School of the Arts on Instagram.
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