M � CORMICK ROAD HOUSES RENOVATIONS

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia

As the primary freshmen housing complex at UVA, the McCormick Road Houses play a pivotal role in the student life experience. This substantial complex includes 10 individually branded “houses” accommodating nearly 1,400 students. Prior to their renovation, the buildings lacked many of the amenities found in newer residence halls on UVA’s campus. The university partnered with Clark Nexsen to create a reimagined housing environment that helps to attract great students and promotes an engaging freshman experience.

Throughout the houses, new interior finishes create a contemporary aesthetic. The introduction of a new HVAC system, fire protection, elevators, and upgraded electrical and telecom systems ensure a safe, comfortable, and functional environment. The design team also seized opportunities to go above and beyond a basic systems renovation and transform key social experiences for first year students.

Openness and transparency are driving themes in shared spaces. The commons spaces now feature floor-to-ceiling glass storefront and modern furnishings, offering students variety of areas for socialization or study. The stairs have been reimagined to support students’ sense of community, with large landings and open sight lines from one side of each house to the other.

The transformation of “The Castle,” a dining and social space, represents a small but very significant component of this project. By opening the exterior walls and introducing a lantern-like addition on the corner, The Castle and its surrounding outdoor plaza have become a vibrant hub of activity.

Key sustainability features include the incorporation of total energy recovery wheels into the Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) to recover energy from the tempered exhaust air and transfer it to the untempered incoming outdoor air. This, coupled with the addition of new insulation at the roof and new energy efficient windows, has help to significantly drive down the energy consumption of the project. In addition, by reusing 97% of the existing structure and envelope, UVA has ensured that these facilities will last for many decades to come.