How VMDO won two AIA Architectural National Awards with SketchUp

U.S. architecture firm VMDO discusses winning two AIA Architectural National Awards through its use of SketchUp and dedication to collaborative and sustainable design.

Thurston Hall final section perspective

VMDO has been propelled into the national spotlight, winning the AIA Architectural National Awards back-to-back in 2023 and 2024. It joins the ranks of stars like Gensler, who lead the category for design originality and exploration. 

Andres A. Pacheco is the lead designer for both award-winning projects, Lubber Run Community Center (2023) and GW Thurston Hall (2024). He credits his success to his design exploration process, which involved using SketchUp as a presentation and iterative tool to express his creative ideas.

While both projects have won awards, the design process for each was decidedly different, with one focused on community buy-in and the other on winning the design competition among other architects. However, what they both have in common is strong presentation visuals and outside-the-box design solutions that require open-minded exploration, speed, and flexibility. 

If you want a chance to win prestigious recognition like VMDO, Andres A. Pacheco credits these keys to success with getting you on the path to achieving them.

Community building with easy-to-understand presentations

The Lubber Run Community Center won the AIA Architecture National Design Award in 2023. Featuring a net-zero energy design and a landscape-focused approach to the surrounding park, the community center offers a holistic response to an urban challenge — creating a public space that is greater and greener for residents. The 50,000-square-foot building uses 43% less energy per square foot when compared to the regional baseline for recreation buildings. 

Lubber Run Community Center scheme iteration shows how Andres combined them for one integrated design.

Andres A. Pacheco told us the design was only possible with genuine community involvement. VMDO collaborated to create a context-specific community engagement process through transparent public workshops to promote equity, access, public health, and sustainable design. This fostered solutions for a sustainable design that seamlessly integrates interior and exterior public and programmed spaces.

“The community was very receptive to the design because we could display a level of looseness with SketchUp that encouraged collaboration. It didn't look like a model coming out of other popular softwares, making it seem like the design is already set in stone.” 
Andres A. Pacheco

Andres used SketchUp’s iterative tools to engage the whole community. Many times, he presented by sharing the SketchUp model directly with stakeholders. In the model, he used the layers feature, showing the potential for different options. The community was very happy about the process and the design team's flexibility.

The four presented design schemes

They presented four design schemes, providing multiple options for community feedback. Rather than selecting a single scheme, the objective was to merge the preferred elements from each into a fifth design for further refinement and input. 

“SketchUp is the best presentation tool I know of. It’s so nimble and quick to change geometry in SketchUp that you can incorporate client suggestions in real-time. We can skip spending time on unnecessary image exports and formatting PowerPoint presentations and simply present with a live SketchUp model. The client could say it would be great if that wall were farther away — and by the time they finished their sentence — I'd already pushed the wall back. We navigate the meetings with such ease that clients say I love this 3D medium, and I love working with VMDO.”
Andres A. Pacheco

Flexible modeling and visualization for exploration

Rather than waiting several weeks for the client to send feedback and then adjust the renderings, Andres leverages SketchUp to make changes instantaneously.

Final Rendering of the Lubber Run Community Center

“We have the flexibility to read the room and make changes on the fly so we can use our time in a very effective way. So, the design goes faster with more interaction and more feedback. I don’t see any other tool that could allow us to do that.”
Andres A. Pacheco

Andres explains that his job is not to model but to explore in a medium like SketchUp, where it’s easy to find the most feasible idea quickly. He humbly explains that it’s not his goals that matter but the client's, and his job is to materialize those goals. As a designer, your role is to dream one step further than the client and guide the design outcomes to ensure it’s the best option and stays within the budget.  

“For me, SketchUp is not just a modeling tool. SketchUp is an exploration and presentation tool first.”
Andres A. Pacheco

Andres said this flexibility enabled VMDO to achieve so many accolades. Because he already had a good model in place, he was able to quickly add finishing touches and create the visualization necessary to achieve design excellence and have a shot at obtaining awards.

Sustainable and inclusive design

Sustainability is a key consideration in Andres' work. However, the challenge is balancing environmentally friendly design with reasonable, effective, and affordable building strategies.

To meet these competing priorities, Andres said sunlight access and building orientation are of the utmost importance — positioning for optimal access to sun and shade. Andres uses SketchUp to easily illustrate how sunlight changes throughout the day and get quick buy-in for the most sustainable designs.

Thurston Hall light analysis in SketchUp

“We are able to show internally the axis of daylight in a courtyard just simply by playing with the shadows. I can quickly bring a sense of life and bring people on board to an idea until everybody internally says, ‘Yeah, this has a strong foundation. Let's go with that.’"
Andres A. Pacheco

Andres also prides himself on VMDO's focus on inclusive design, where every room and floor offers the same level of accessibility for all. For the AIA award-winning Thurston Hall renovation, VMDO transformed an overly dense, outdated layout into one with plentiful natural light, welcoming lanterns, and universal access to gathering spaces.

 Thurston Hall concept diagram

“We don’t differentiate between who has better access or not. The building now has access for everybody and facilitates this ability for students to connect. That was in George Washington University’s original vision, and we helped them materialize it in a way that is clear, functional, and within budget. Helping them achieve that was spectacular. I’m humbled and happy to have brought their idea to life.”
Andres A. Pacheco

Integration with nature

Lubber Run Community Center Diagram highlighting sustainable site strategies

Along with considerations for sustainability and inclusivity, Andres says integration with nature is critical to successful architectural design. In the case of Lubber Run Community Center, Andres said stakeholders were conflicted on how to achieve that integration. The goal was to blur the lines between nature and the building, but everyone had a different idea about what that meant. 

“Half of the people thought integration meant putting the building in one corner and nature in the other so they could respect each other. The other half said the building should be embedded in nature and co-inhabit the same area. So we had to navigate that.” 
Andres A. Pacheco

With SketchUp, VMDO was able to combine the winning elements from each design scheme based on real-time feedback.

In the end, the design implemented underground parking and community spaces to allow for increased outdoor amenities. By merging the building and natural landscape, the center offers a shared public space that achieves the ultimate goal of being greater and greener for residents.

Andres says SketchUp's flexibility and real-time presentation abilities help VMDO inspire clients and foster collaboration, enhancing and streamlining the design process. 

“SketchUp helped us to achieve design excellence. Thanks to many factors, including this spectacular tool, we have won two AIA national awards. I would say, as the designer, I owe it also to the tool that I use, SketchUp.”
Andres A. Pacheco

Ready to achieve design excellence? It's time to give SketchUp a try. Start a free trial or find the right subscription for you today.

About VMDO

Since 1976, VMDO has provided architectural planning and design services emphasizing quality and enduring design that supports a healthier populace and planet. With 75+ employees and offices in Charlottesville, Virginia and Washington D.C., the firm creates community-centered environments that connect people and places through design.

VMDO strives to improve the human experience by acting as stewards of the environment and emphasizing a place's unique spirit. They specialize in three areas of educational design practice: K-12 schools, higher education, and athletics and community.