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University of the District of Columbia’s
New Student Center

2016   I   Completed

LOCATION

Washington, D.C.

Discipline

SECTOR

Project Type

Audi Field
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Project Details

The University of the District of Columbia’s New Student Center is an 80,000-square-foot, $63 million project that serves as a vital gateway to the campus and a symbol of UDC’s modern vision. Completed in 2016, the Center fronts Connecticut Avenue and welcomes students and visitors into a vibrant public square anchored by a distinctive clock tower, signifying UDC’s renewed civic presence and urban engagement.

Designed as part of UDC’s Campus Master Plan, the Student Center embodies the integration of sustainability and urban revitalization, achieving LEED Platinum certification. As one of the first LEED Platinum student centers on the East Coast, the building highlights UDC’s commitment to environmental stewardship and community connection. Sustainable features include a rain garden, daylight-filled atria, bioretention systems for stormwater management, photovoltaic panels, and geothermal systems. A 20,000-square-foot green roof, used for urban agriculture, supports the university’s land-grant mission and includes a stormwater harvesting system with dual 500-gallon cisterns.

Inside, the Center houses a welcome center, ballroom, student government offices, lounges, and dining options, catering to residential and commuter students, faculty, and the broader community.

Realized by Paola Moya, Associate Architect at Marshall Moya Design, and CannonDesign as Architect of Record, the project has earned major accolades, including the National Organization of Minority Architects Design Excellence Award, ENR Mid-Atlantic Award of Merit in Higher Education, finalist recognition at the Urban Land Institute’s Real Estate Trends Awards, and the 2018 Best in Class Brick in Architecture Award, celebrating its design excellence and community impact.

Facts & Figures

Client

University of the District of Columbia 

Size

80,000 SF

Status

Completed

Completion Year

2016

project cost

$63M

accreditations

LEED Platinum 

Delivery Method

DesignBidBuild 

Construction type

1-A/Concrete
Mid
-Rise
 

Awards

2018

Brick Industry Association | Brick in Architecture Award 

2016

National Organization of Minority Architects | Professional Design Excellence Award

2016

ENR Mid-Atlantic Award of Merit | Higher Education

2016

ENR Mid-Atlantic Award of Merit | Higher Education

2016

Urban Land Institute | Real Estate Trends Awards Finalist

Collaborators

General Contractor

Forrester Construction

CIVIL

Delon Hampton & Associates, Inc.

MEP

SETTY & Associates

LANDSCAPE

Lee and Associates, Inc.

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Moya Design Partners, LLC. © 2025, All Rights Reserved

MOYA Design Partners, LLC. © 2025, All Rights Reserved