Shenandoah University’s Hazel-Pruitt Armory Recognized By National Architectural Design Publication
Designed by ESa, the armory earned a grand prize in Learning By Design’s Fall 2025 Architectural and Interior Design Awards
Shenandoah University’s Hazel-Pruitt Armory, home of the Hub for Innovators, Veterans and Entrepreneurs (HIVE), received the 2025 Grand Prize for Historic Repurpose in Learning By Design magazine’s Architectural and Interior Design Awards, announced in October in its Fall 2025 issue.
Hazel-Pruitt Armory, designed by the Tennessee-based architectural firm ESa, was one of three projects to win a grand prize this fall in one of three categories: historic repurpose, social impact and under 1,000 square feet. A jury composed of five architects and education facility professionals reviewed and debated the merits of award submissions, according to Learning By Design’s website.
Jury comments shared on Learning By Design’s website state that the armory’s design is “deeply rooted in community needs,” adding that the project “blends historic preservation with contemporary design, creating a striking identity that honors legacy while embracing innovation.”
Constructed in 1940, the armory building served as the headquarters for the Virginia Army National Guard 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment until 2009, and hosted numerous community events throughout its history. Shenandoah, which acquired the property as the National Guard prepared to move to its new headquarters in Frederick County, has transformed the building into the home of The HIVE, a future-focused space that houses the university’s advanced technology programs and serves as a community resource for small-business owners.
Renovation began in November 2022, and Shenandoah celebrated the building’s opening – and its new name – in the fall of 2024. In July 2025, the nonprofit organization Preservation of Historic Winchester presented Shenandoah University with a PHW Award of Merit for its adaptive reuse of the former National Guard armory.
For more information about Learning By Design’s 2025 Grand Prize for Historic Repurpose, see the news releases shared by ESa and Howard Shockey and Sons, Inc., which led construction on the project.
