Elevating the Student Experience: UVA Darden School of Business and Clark Construction Celebrate "Topping Out" New Student Housing

February 24, 2026

Darden

On February 20, 2026, Clark Construction joined the University of Virginia (UVA) to celebrate topping out the structural concrete of the new Darden School of Business graduate student housing project  — a major milestone in the School’s first on-Grounds residential community for Full-Time MBA students on North Grounds.

This ceremony marks the completion of the highest structural point for the two-building residential complex. The project, which broke ground in late 2024, offers residential living designed specifically for UVA Darden’s Full-Time MBA students. The complex consists of two primary buildings totaling approximately 246,000 square feet.

Reaching this vertical milestone required strong coordination between Clark and trade partners. Before the structure could rise, crews relocated over 7,000 linear feet of underground utilities and moved more than 21,000 cubic yards of earth to prepare the North Grounds site. The superstructure comprises 16,000 cubic yards of concrete, creating a durable foundation for the future of Darden residential life. This progress is the result of more than 215,800 craft hours dedicated by skilled tradespeople over the past year. Furthermore, the project remains on track for LEED Silver certification.

topping out luncheon
The project team gathers for a luncheon to recognize the hard work of the skilled tradespeople reaching this structural milestone. Credit: Caroline Mackey, UVA Darden

“Our distinctive advantage has always been transformational learning in a close-knit community. If we want to sustain that advantage, and build on it, we have to invest in the conditions that make it possible.” - Mike Lenox, Interim Dean of UVA Darden School of Business

Upon completion, the complex will provide 216 units and more than 325 beds, including a mix of studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. The design, led by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, prioritizes community with landscaped courtyards and proximity to the Abbott Center and Wilkinson Courtyard.

The construction team is now focused on enclosing the frame, installing systems, and finishing interiors, ahead of an anticipated 2027 opening.