Wertland Square : Charlottesville, VA
- 87,000 sf
- Completed 2005
The state-of-the-art student housing project was the recipient of the Grand Prize in its category in Builder Magazine's 2007 Builder's Choice Awards. Located a few hundred yards from the Rotunda on the Central Grounds at the University of Virginia, this building has transformed an unsightly L-shaped surface parking lot into a new home for 150 students. Utilizing the basic principles of good urban design, Wertland Square has returned trees, shade and pedestrians to the site using a garden promenade connecting two five-level buildings. Pedestrian access to and from surrounding streets leads residents to a well-defined central gathering space framed by circular pergolas. The architecture is innovative, simple and elegant, consistent with the architectural legacy of the neighborhood and the University.