Art & Design building receives Fairfax County design award

The Art and Design building on Mason’s Fairfax Campus. 

The Art and Design building on the George Mason University campus was built in August 2009. Now, one year later, the building received a prestigious award from Fairfax County.

The Art building, located behind Innovation hall, won the 2010 Exceptional Design Award. The Board of Supervisors recognized the builders Oct. 19.

The design firm of Ayers Saint Gross Architects and Planners was grateful for the recognition.

“Rewarding for everyone involved,” Alick Dearie, the lead designer and architect of the building said about the award.

The award jury recognized the Art & Design building for inspiring art and demonstrating “good functionality with an elegant use of standard features and materials.”

Construction of the building cost $27.2 million.

According to Dearie, the design goal was to construct the building to be open for students and open for possibility.

One unique feature of the building is the abundance of natural light produced by the many windows. Dearie describes the building as an adaptable industrial warehouse building.

The building holds classrooms, offices, studios, a 75-seat lecture hall, and a gallery for displaying student work.