ESa receives Grand Prize Award – Historic Repurpose for the Shenandoah University – The HIVE (Hub for Innovators, Veterans and Entrepreneurs)
ESa has received a Grand Prize Award – Historic Repurpose in Learning By Design Magazine’s Fall 2025 Architecture and Interior Design Awards of Excellence.
ESa’s design of the Shenandoah University – The HIVE (Hub for Innovators, Veterans and Entrepreneurs) (Winchester, VA) has been recognized as an award-winning benchmark facility for its incorporation of next generation learning space design and planning methodologies. The built environment characteristics found in this project are worthy of replication by other educators and design professionals who create, have oversight of, and operate spaces for learning.
All submissions to the Fall 2025 awards program were peer-reviewed by a jury of vetted education design professionals. Projects such as the Shenandoah University – The HIVE (Hub for Innovators, Veterans and Entrepreneurs) are scored on six submission criteria: Design Challenges and Innovation; Sustainability and Social Impact; Interior Architecture/Design; Next Generation Learning; Functional Design/Effective space Planning; and Community Needs. The judges determine each project’s worthiness, unique qualities, and the architectural design and planning concepts that were successfully implemented. Learning By Design’s jury of five education, architecture, and facility design experts applauded ESa for its accomplishment in designing the Shenandoah University – The HIVE (Hub for Innovators, Veterans and Entrepreneurs).
The Jury comments about this project included:
- “The narrative and images clearly convey a design deeply rooted in community needs. Adapting the existing building showcases sustainability and thoughtful inclusivity—lactation rooms, unisex toilets, and veteran services reflect careful programming. The project blends historic preservation with contemporary design, creating a striking identity that honors legacy while embracing innovation.”
- “This project demonstrates an exceptional blend of historic preservation and contemporary architectural expression. The striking contrast between the restored masonry and the angular glass addition creates a powerful identity rooted in both legacy and innovation. Adaptive reuse of a WWII-era armory into an immersive learning hub for modern disciplines is really interesting.”
- “The immersive labs, motion capture facilities, and e-gaming infrastructure reflect cutting-edge academic programming. The HIVE supports interdisciplinary, experiential learning and digital fluency in ways that align with future-facing higher education models.”
The Shenandoah University – The HIVE (Hub for Innovators, Veterans and Entrepreneurs) will be featured in the print and digital version of the October 2025 edition of Learning By Design Magazine.