School of Architecture Fabrication Lab Named in Honor of Anselmo G. Canfora

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The School of Architecture community recently gathered for a heartfelt dedication of its Fabrication Lab, renamed in honor of the late Anselmo Gianluca Canfora, a beloved professor, mentor, colleague, and friend whose vision and generosity have left an indelible mark on the University of Virginia. The ceremony, attended by faculty, students, alumni, and friends, celebrated Anselmo’s purpose-driven approach to design, teaching, and leadership and his profound impact on those around him. 

A Transformative Figure at UVA 

Dean Malo A. Hutson opened the ceremony, calling Anselmo “an outstanding scholar, teacher, designer, administrator, visionary, mentor, and colleague who was focused on making a difference in the world.” Hutson described Anselmo as “selfless and an effective and transformational leader” who inspired everyone to become their best selves. He also recalled Anselmo’s personal warmth, noting, “I could talk to him about anything. We talked about work, we talked about our families, we talked about fatherhood, and even the children's cartoon Paw Patrol.” This balance of leadership and camaraderie was a hallmark of Anselmo’s impact. 

Anselmo joined the faculty in 2004, bringing his expertise in fabrication and design from the University of Michigan to a school that, at the time, had only minimal fabrication facilities. From his arrival, he became the driving force behind creating a full-scale fabrication lab, envisioning a collaborative, hands-on environment that eventually became the rich space for learning he had imagined. Karen Van Lengen, who was then Dean recalled, “He would visit my office at least weekly with a new idea, an equipment donor lead, or a plan for an industry partnership.” His tireless efforts transformed the lab from modest beginnings into the state-of-the-art facility it is today, inspiring countless students and faculty through the power of making. 

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An Enduring Friendship and Early Career 

John Comazzi, Associate Director of Academics at the School of Architecture and one of Anselmo’s closest friends, shared reflections from their early career together. They first met in a 1996 graduate seminar on Chicago architecture at the University of Michigan, bonding over design debates and a shared passion. Comazzi offered a glimpse into Anselmo’s early excitement for architecture, reading from a letter Anselmo wrote as a high school senior after skipping school to attend the 150 Years of Chicago Architecture exhibit at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry—what Comazzi called “his own Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” 

Their friendship grew as they began teaching at Michigan, supporting one another’s development, and critiquing each other’s work. Comazzi said, “Anselmo’s attention to detail, craft, and material expression became the values he brought to his various roles here at UVA and why we are honoring him today.” 

Building an “Innovation Ecosystem” at UVA 

For Jeana Ripple, Chair and Associate Professor of Architecture, Anselmo's leadership at the A-School was truly transformational and their friendship unforgettable. In his roles as Director of Fabrication Facilities and Programs and Associate Dean of Academics, Anselmo worked energetically to forge essential partnerships across the university with fields as diverse as biomedical engineering, material science, and medicine. Through his work advancing the school’s facilities and developing the undergraduate curriculum, Ripple said, “Anselmo developed a foundational education that welcomed thousands of students and dozens of new faculty to the fundamentals of design.” His mission, as Ripple described, was to create an “innovation ecosystem” at UVA—an inclusive, collaborative environment where students could learn by making. 

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A Passion for Public Interest Design 

Beyond his work renovating the facilities at Campbell Hall, Anselmo’s commitment to social impact was a cornerstone of his career. In 2007, he founded reCOVER, a design-build program focused on disaster recovery. This initiative won international acclaim with the “Breathe House” project, which provided critical relief housing in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. His dedication to public interest design earned the A-School prominence in humanitarian architecture and expanded students' understanding of design’s potential to effect change. 

Among those most touched by Anselmo’s commitment to public interest design was George Srour, co-founder of Building Tomorrow, an organization dedicated to building schools and educational programs in Uganda. Srour and Anselmo shared a close friendship as “brothers from another mother,” tied by their Mediterranean roots, a spirited rivalry, and a shared commitment to dignity in education. Srour recalled their partnership on the first Building Tomorrow school, the Academy of Gita, which Anselmo and the reCOVER studio designed. Srour humorously noted Anselmo’s exacting standards, remembering how he searched for “the only eight well-milled 2x4s I’ve seen in 18 years of this work.” For Anselmo, each classroom was deserving of quality and respect, evident in his care and attention to every detail. 

Carrying Anselmo's Legacy Forward 

As the Fabrication Lab takes on the name Anselmo Gianluca Canfora Fabrication Lab, it stands as a lasting testament to his vision and dedication. Ripple said, “When I think about carrying forward his work, I think about how happy I am that his name will continue to welcome generations of students and faculty.” His name on the Fabrication Lab will remind future architects and designers to approach their work with the same passion, humility, and commitment to community that Anselmo exemplified. 

Thank you, Anselmo. You will always be in our hearts. 

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