UNR’s University Arts Building wins national design honors

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:

• 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.