Building Community, Building the Future: Darden’s First On-Grounds Housing Begins to Take Shape in Charlottesville

By summer 2027, a new chapter will begin at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. For the first time, Full-Time MBA students will live, learn and build lifelong connections — all right on Grounds.

This milestone will redefine the Darden experience. The impact of on-Grounds student housing will extend beyond convenience, positioning Darden among the world’s top business schools and strengthening its ability to attract talented students from around the globe.

This transformation is possible because of visionary leadership and early philanthropy — alumni and friends who saw an opportunity to shape Darden’s future and stepped up to make it possible. Among them are David LaCross (MBA ’78) and his wife, Kathy, who recently made a transformative, $100 million gift to Darden. A portion of their gift is earmarked for student housing.

Now, we invite you to be part of this moment.

A rendering shows the view of Wilkinson Courtyard from Saunders Hall, looking toward House C, the flagship building of the new student housing.

Imagine What Will Be Possible

A First-Year, Full-Time MBA student wakes up in her apartment, steps from Darden’s Abbott Center, and heads to a morning strategy session with her learning team. Her roommate, preparing for a tech leadership panel, grabs coffee from the shared kitchen, greeting neighbors in the courtyard.

In the evening, students gather in the Tahija Arboretum & LaCross Botanical Gardens, continuing conversations after a day of cases and interviews. Others retreat to shared study rooms, while faculty join in impromptu discussions over dinner. There’s a buzz in the air — the kind of energy that only exists when a community lives and learns together.

David LaCross (MBA ’78) speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new student housing.

Fewer Commutes, More Community

For decades, Darden Full-Time MBA students have faced the challenges of living off-Grounds — long commutes, competitive housing markets and limited time on Grounds. This reality put Darden at a disadvantage in the elite MBA landscape.

Among top-tier MBA programs, Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Dartmouth Tuck School of Business offer on-campus living that fosters spontaneous networking and a close-knit community. HBS’s six residence halls have been part of its MBA program since 1927. Stanford GSB’s facilities, dating to the late 1990s, provide students with private suites, shared kitchens and collaborative spaces. More than half of Tuck’s First Year MBA students live in on-campus residence halls — each built within the last 25 years — directly adjacent to the main classroom and administrative buildings.

Now, Darden is poised to offer similar advantages — answering students’ long-standing calls for more accessible, community-focused housing amid Charlottesville’s tight rental market.

“This project transforms the student experience,” says Dean Scott Beardsley. “Living here will be a game-changer — not just in daily life, but in how we compete with the best business schools in the world.”

UVA and Darden officials take part in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new student housing. From left: Vice Dean Melissa Thomas-Hunt, Dean Scott Beardsley, Kathy LaCross, David LaCross (MBA ’78), UVA President Jim Ryan, former Provost Ian Baucom, Architect for the University Alice Raucher, Darden School Foundation Board Chair Frank M. Sands (MBA ’94), and Senior Associate Dean Marc Johnson (EMBA ’13).

Why This Matters

This shift better positions Darden to:

• Recruit Top Talent: A more vibrant on-Grounds experience will enhance the appeal of Darden’s world-class MBA.
• Enhance Community and Alumni Bonds: Living, studying and collaborating together creates deeper relationships that strengthen the Darden alumni network.
• Eliminate Barriers to Learning: Living steps from classrooms and peers means more time for learning, collaborating and building connections.

“Proximity matters,” says Professor Melissa Thomas-Hunt, vice dean and senior associate dean for the Full-Time Residential MBA Program. “At a place like Darden, the connections that form outside the classroom are as important as what happens inside. This model ensures that students build deep and broad relationships that embed them in the Darden community for life.”

“This isn’t just about housing,” Beardsley adds. “This can be a financial asset for Darden. Once paid off, this project has the potential to generate revenue that can fund scholarships, faculty excellence and new initiatives for decades to come.”

A rendering shows a shared space in House A — including two breakout rooms and an adjoining kitchen. Interior renderings are subject to review and approval by UVA and Darden.

More Than Buildings — A Lasting Impact

Unlike a traditional building project, an investment like this in student housing can provide ongoing returns. As loans are paid down, revenue from housing can be reinvested into Darden’s strategic priorities.

Donors supporting the project aren’t just funding a space — they’re potentially funding student and faculty success for generations, ensuring the project continues to benefit Darden in the most meaningful way.

UVA President Jim Ryan shakes hands with David LaCross (MBA ’78) alongside Darden Dean Scott Beardsley.

A New Darden Experience

For many, once student housing is complete, Darden will no longer be just a place to commute to — it will be their home.

New traditions will take root: weekend potlucks in the courtyard, morning runs with classmates, and conversations that start in seminars and continue over shared dinners.

This isn’t just student housing. It’s a fundamental shift in the Darden experience.

A rendering shows a bird’s-eye view of Wilkinson Courtyard, surrounded clockwise from top by House C, the Library Building, Saunders Hall and the Abbott Center. House C is the flagship building of the new student housing.

Be Part of This Historic Moment

Contact Samantha Hartog, senior associate vice president of advancement, to learn more at HartogS@darden.virginia.edu or +1-434-981-4025.

Naming Opportunities

Visit drdn.mba/housing to view the latest information.

Beyond Housing: More Ways to Make an Impact

Faculty Office Building Renovation: With modern offices, collaborative spaces and new amenities, the renovated Faculty Office Building will foster innovation and strengthen the Darden learning environment. Naming opportunities are available at a range of investment levels, from individual faculty offices to pavilions with outdoor porches. Learn more at drdn.mba/fob.

Unnamed Spaces Across Grounds: Additional naming opportunities are available across Darden, from classrooms to study rooms and outdoor terraces. Signature spaces include the Classroom Building and South Lounge at Goodwin Family Grounds in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the D.C. Dome Room and the Potomac River Room at Sands Family Grounds in Arlington, Virginia. Learn more at drdn.mba/spaces.