Join a Spring 2026 meditation program at the Contemplative Commons studying the link between meditation and environment. Must be 18-24 years old and have little to no meditation experience.
CSC News
Julianna Mollica, a PhD Graduate Research Assistant with the Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC) and doctoral candidate in UVA’s Constructed Environment program, studies how architecture and neuroscience intersect to influence mental health.
The CSC research team seeks adults aged 18-70 to participate in a study exploring contemplative experiences in Virtual Reality (VR), sleep health, and cognitive flexibility.
Architectural Record featured the Contemplative Commons in their health and wellness issue, published in January, 2026.
Check out the Contemplative Sciences Center's 2025 year-end newsletter.
“It was wonderful. It was like being in a whole other dimension of peace and serenity and connected to whence we came and maybe to whence we return," Jill Lord, a visitor to NINFEO says.
UVAToday highlighted introduction to Capoeira, held on Nov 11, 2015 at the Contemplative Sciences Center. This event was co-sponsored by the Department of African American and African Studies, Carter G. Woodson Institute, and the Contemplative Sciences Center.
C-VILLE Weekly recently reviewed Wolfgang Buttress’ immersive art installation NINFEO which resides in the Contemplative Commons—together with its sister exhibition at Les Yeux du Monde gallery in Charlottesville.
Featured in the October newsletter (archived PDF): "The Active Series: Finding Breath and Movement," by student worker, Malaika Rehman; SENSEmaking Symposium Dazzles; Upcoming Events, and more. Subscribe here.
"We really wanted to create a building that people could thrive in." These are the words of the Contemplative Commons’ principle architect Kent Chiang in Channel 29’s story on the uniqueness of one of UVA’s newest buildings that provides a peaceful sanctuary for students, faculty, and community members.
Rolling Stone published an article by Contemplative Sciences Center student intern, Jack Korngold who is currently attending high school in New York City.
The Contemplative Science Center's Michael Sheehy discusses ways to guard our attention. “Let’s remember our attention is a precious human resource. If we treat our attention as something we need to guard, to protect, and we direct it toward what we want to pay attention to, that resource is strengthened and becomes more abundant,” Sheehy said.
As UVA's Fall 2025 semester begins, view CSC's events and programming in the August August 2025 newsletter (archived PDF). Subscribe here.
The Elements of Peace Summer Program offered youth (ages 11-15) an immersion retreat rooted in mindfulness, creative expression, and deep connection with nature. Campers expressed how the retreat gave them a sense of belonging and deepened self-awareness.
In a partnership between UVA's Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC) and CARELab, a conscious AI leadership program, UVA students, interns, and community youth worked together on solutions to local community challenges. CSC facilitated mindfulness integration into the values-centered program.
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The Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) recognized the University of Virginia's Contemplative Commons with a 2025 Design Excellence Award.
As expected, we are experiencing a high volume of requests for space at the Contemplative Commons. Currently, we are not accepting reservations as our team finalizes guidelines and procedures for processing requests.
UVA's Envision highlighted Wolfgang Buttress' installation, NINFEO, at the Contemplative Commons.
A Serene Immersion
Nearly 10,000 fans packed John Paul Jones Arena on Saturday night for a star-studded benefit concert featuring the Zac Brown Band and Maggie Rogers, celebrating the dedication of the University of Virginia’s Contemplative Sciences Center.
Over the weekend, many celebratory events featured a variety of creative activities, ending with a benefit concert featuring Maggie Rogers and Zac Brown Band.
The Contemplative Sciences Center celebrated the opening of the Contemplative Commons with partners from UVA and beyond.
Since the beginning of the spring semester, students and community members have gathered on Friday afternoons to enjoy a sound bath followed by a yoga or tai chi session to shake off the week’s stress.
The Cavalier Daily ran an editorial piece, “Celebrate the Contemplative Commons and other non-academic student spaces”, highlighting the recently completed Contemplative Commons building. With its peaceful aesthetic combined with its holistic programming, the Commons serves as a sanctuary for students, as well as bridging different areas of the University both geographically and academically.
LearningWell Magazine featured the Contemplative Commons: "The new 57,000-square-foot Commons is home to the Contemplative Sciences Center—and a new way to promote flourishing in higher education."
The Commons hosted 9 academic courses, student drop-in programs and research talks throughout the fall semester