dumontjanks

Three ideas govern this uppermost 5 acre parcel in the new Ivy Mixed Academic District.

As part of its efforts to reinvest in residential life, The University of Virginia worked with DumontJanks to add a 600 bed residential community into the district which would complement the planned academic uses. Second, the idea was to expand the stream valley idea from the lower district and think of this upper district as a tributary to the lower. This would allow us to handle all rainwater from building roofs and impervious surfaces, hold or infiltrate that water on site, or in storm event, hold and release that water into the Phase I stream valley below. Lastly, given the sites long axis is oriented west east, the long southern exposure offered strong opportunity to capture south exposure for 75% the residential community. This is especially evident in the “C” buildings indicated on the north side of the parcel facing the “Commons”.

The street and commons buildings indicate 4-5 floor massing on those frontages and a 7 floor massing along the north side of the parcel with long distant views to the university’s athletics district.

The design idea builds a sense of community through a series of interconnected residential enclaves, each with its own courtyard identity but united by shared amenities, dining, fitness, and academic collaboration spaces. At the Commons level, active ground floors with student work spaces extend the academic life of the district from the academic uses in the Phase I district below while insuring 24/7 vitality in the overall district.