Shea House

What is Shea House Like?

Shea House offers the opportunity for approximately 75 students to live in an environment of total language immersion. Located on Jefferson Park Avenue, Shea House serves as the cultural and linguistic center at UVA for six to eight different languages, which may vary each year (previous languages have included Arabic, ASL, Chinese, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, and Russian).

Cultural events put on at Shea House are often presented in collaboration with faculty from the University’s language departments. Whether joking with friends, sharing meals, or discussing films or politics, students living at Shea House deepen their experience of these vital languages and their associated cultures.

Shea House requires a separate application in addition to your Returning Student Housing Application. Please see Shea House’s website for more information.

How the House Got Its Name: A Richmond native, A. Vincent Shea was an alumnus of the University who joined the faculty in 1936. After being awarded the Bronze Star in World War II, he returned and held positions over the next 50 years including professor of Government and Foreign Affairs, assistant to President Darden, secretary to the Board of Visitors, Comptroller, and Vice President for Business and Finance.

Patio outside the front door to Shea House with metal tables and chairs

Double bedroom in Shea House with beds lofted at different heights, desk and chair, and dressers

Double bedroom in Shea House with bed lofted to accommodate underbed dresser, wardrobe, desk, and chair

Double bedroom in Shea House with low-lofted bed, desk, and chair

Double bedroom in Shea House includes wardrobes with hanging, shelf, and drawer storage, lofted beds, and dressers

Shea House dining room with a variety of styles of tables, chairs, and booth seating

The lobby area lounge at Shea House with tables and a variety of soft seating, sofas, and stools

A study room at Shea House with rolling tables and chairs

Working classroom in Shea House with desks, chairs, lectern, and whiteboard

The common kitchen on the first floor of Shea House includes a refrigerator, stove, oven, sink, counter workspace, and cabinet storage

A floor-level common lounge with sofa, chair, and TV monitor

A floor-level common lounge with sofas, chairs, tables, and TV monitor

A floor-level common lounge with tall table and chairs, sofa, soft chair, and TV monitor

A floor-level lounge with sectional sofa, soft seating and side table, TV monitor, and storage cabinet

Common space booth seating with small tables

Amenities & Furnishings

Extra-long twin lofted beds [80" x 36"]
Desks with carrels and chairs
Dressers
Wardrobes
Wastebasket
Window blinds (must be left in place)
Vinyl floors
Wireless connection to the University's computer network
Air conditioning

What's Nearby

Common areas
Kitchen
Water bottle filling station
Laundry facilities
The Lawn
Old Cabell Hall
Shannon/Clemmons/Small Libraries
Newcomb Hall
The Amphitheatre
UVA Bookstore
West Range Café