The Virginia Center for Architecture announced on May 21 its intention to change its name to the Virginia Museum of Architecture and Design ― VMAD for short.
“This change affirms how we’ve always envisioned ourselves,” says Executive Director Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA. “As a public institution dedicated to elevating the understanding of architecture and design, we’ve been offering educational programming, exhibitions, and tours since we opened in 2005. We behave as a museum and, as we approach our tenth year, we determined our name should reflect this reality.”
The name change also expresses a recent expansion of the organization’s mission. On March 15, 2013, the Board of Trustees voted to incorporate design into the museum’s mission statement. “The design disciplines are inherently connected,” says board chair Peyton Boyd, FAIA. “This addition allows us to consider the influence of design on nearly every aspect of our lives. In addition to architecture, we can explore interiors, objects, fashion, graphic design, and landscape architecture. It also opens the door to investigate community design, urban planning, transportation, and so much more,” he continues.
A new graphic identity will be revealed during an unveiling ceremony at a later date.
The Virginia Center for Architecture is located in the Branch House at 2501 Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia’s historic Fan District. The Center is dedicated to developing the understanding of the power and importance of architecture and design through programs, exhibitions, and its stewardship of an historic landmark. The Center is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Learn more at www.architectureva.org.