Board of Visitors Approval Process

The BOV is composed of sixteen members appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, for terms of four years. In addition, a non-voting student member is appointed to serve a one-year term each year before the annual meeting of the BOV. The Rector and Visitors serve as the corporate board for the University of Virginia, and are responsible for the long-term planning of the University. The BOV approves the policies and budget of the University, and is entrusted with the preservation of the University's many traditions, including the Honor System.  

As such, the BOV approves the construction projects at the University of Virginia and requires presentations at various stages of project execution. The University Architect reports to the BOV Buildings and Grounds Committee and coordinates these reviews.

BOV approval of Project, Site, and Design Guidelines is required and will be coordinated by the Architect for the University. The Architectural Guidelines should address each of the following seven general headings as appropriate.

  1. Initial reference shall be made to the Vision Statement:"Inherent in these Guidelines is the intent and scope of the Vision Statement for the Buildings and Grounds of the University of Virginia, adopted by the BOV on May 21, 1991. The Vision Statement shall be the primary reference for the overall design and planning of the Project."
  2. Contribution to the Master Plan
  3. Nature of site and site plan strategy (this is also the place to address any landscape issues which may be specific to this Project)
  4. Context, mass, and scale; relationship to the surrounding community, if appropriate
  5. Architectural character, form and materials
  6. Pedestrian and vehicular issues, including parking
  7. Other issues unique to this Project (if any)

BOV approval of Schematic Designs and Preliminary Designs: is required and will be coordinated by the Architect for the University. These presentations will be similar to the AARB presentations noted above and will include

  • a site plan demonstrating the relationships with other buildings and major topographical and landscape features,
  • simple plans with the basic functional organization clearly portrayed,
  • rendered elevations with shadows and in color,
  • cross sections (often necessary to explain how additions are connected to their parent buildings),
  • either a rendered perspective or a model or one or more photographs of a model,
  • proposed materials palette.