Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center

The Mary M. Torggler Fine Arts Center stands as a transformative visual arts destination on Christopher Newport University’s campus—an architectural statement that blends contemporary design with the university’s Neo-Georgian aesthetic. The 88,060-square-foot facility serves as both the university’s fine arts hub and the new home for the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, expanding opportunities for arts education, community engagement, and high-profile exhibitions.

A Flexible and Interdisciplinary Home for the Visual Arts

Led by the architecture team at Glave & Holmes, the Torggler Center was designed with adaptability and functionality in mind. The center features a wide range of instructional and exhibition spaces, including state-of-the-art studios, an art history lecture hall, hands-on galleries, and flexible programming areas. The center introduces more than 8,000 square feet of new gallery space, a children’s discovery gallery, and a theater, each of which meets American Alliance of Museums (AAM) accreditation standards.

The building also strengthens Christopher Newport University’s arts curriculum, incorporating new academic facilities, specialized studios, and classrooms that support a broad array of artistic disciplines and evolving programmatic needs.

Architectural Expression That Connects Campus and Community

Inspired by the architectural language of the adjacent Ferguson Center for the Performing Arts—originally designed by I.M. Pei—the Torggler Center creates a harmonious bridge between CNU’s modern performing arts district and its neo-classical campus core. Its signature entry sequence features three-tiered glass domes that form a dramatic, light-filled welcome for visitors and establish the building’s identity as a cultural destination.

An extended arcade reinforces continuity with the surrounding campus landscape, subtly transitioning between architectural styles while framing views and circulation paths that encourage public engagement.

Engineering Systems That Support Galleries, Studios, and Specialized Arts Spaces

Mueller designed mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems tailored to the building’s diverse spatial and environmental needs. Precise temperature and humidity control ensure preservation-quality conditions throughout the gallery spaces, enabling the university to host major traveling exhibitions and collections from institutions such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Industrial studios and fabrication spaces are supported by specialized exhaust and ventilation systems, while teaching spaces and public areas benefit from comfort-focused HVAC solutions that enhance usability and energy efficiency. The result is an integrated engineering approach that supports artistic exploration, operational flexibility, and long-term building performance.

The Torggler Fine Arts Center is more than a new campus building—it is a catalyst for creativity, a bridge between tradition and innovation, and a significant cultural asset for both Christopher Newport University and the wider Newport News community.

Read more about the Torggler Fine Arts Center in Mueller’s newsletter Momentum.