About
We’re about sparking passion, seeing possibilities—and making a difference
In the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, passion fuels everything we do. Whether it’s sparked by a brushstroke, a blueprint, a performance, or a prototype, our students, faculty, and alumni bring their creativity to life through transformational learning, boundary-pushing research, impactful community engagement, and lifelong creative practice.
As part of Virginia Tech, we are collaborating across disciplines and communities to create a more sustainable, human-centered, and inspired world.
Having purpose, doing what we love, with people who get it — that’s the sweet spot.
We are a vibrant community of passionate, talented individuals where creativity thrives. Curiosity, empathy, beauty, and responsibility are at the heart of everything we do.
-Lu Liu, dean of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design
Learn by doing, lead by creating
Music composing major Carter Roberts has helped audiences experience major events in history while orchestrating his own career. His first major composing project at Virginia Tech put his work at center stage as part of the university’s 150th anniversary. As an encore, he created the sound design for the 80th anniversary display at the National D-Day Memorial.
Roberts came to Virginia Tech because he wanted to make music and surround himself with people who love music —and his fellow Hokies didn’t disappoint. “I’m an artist. We’re all artists,” he said. “Art is a bunch of hardworking individuals producing something exciting. That’s what the goal is, what the goal has always been.”
From here to anywhere—see how far AAD can take you
Collaborating to make lives and built environments better
Could the design of a building help us feel calmer, think more clearly, or even heal? Alaa Algargoosh believes it can. She’s leading a multidisciplinary research effort that merges architecture, neuroscience, and material science, developing sound-responsive environments that actively support mental well-being and focus.
Like other AAD researchers, Algargoosh is at the forefront of innovation. She’s using partnerships and collaborations to push the boundaries and redefine what architecture can be: not just a visual or structural experience, but a multisensory one, with sound as a key ingredient in health and quality of life.
Together, we’re riding the wave of what’s next
At AAD, passion isn’t just personal — it’s a collective force for progress. We are united by a shared belief: that architecture, design, and the arts can build a better future.
And that belief doesn't stop at graduation. Our alumni are shaping cities, sparking cultural movements, designing sustainable spaces, and leading creative innovation around the world. People like Bill Almond and Alec Yuzhbabenko, who brought a bold vision and community-centered design to Virginia Beach’s Atlantic Park project, are proof that what starts here goes far beyond campus.
From transforming public spaces to launching creative startups to leading global firms, our graduates are out there making it real. They’re not just building careers; they’re building what’s next.
