RICHMOND, VA (December 5, 2013) – Baskervill is excited to announce that The Lofts at West Station won an award for Best Rehabilitation of an Existing Structure at the 2013 Vision Awards held by the Urban Land Institute of Richmond.

The adaptive reuse project converted a pair of early 20th-century warehouses into 70 apartments and a neighborhood restaurant in the burgeoning West Station district of Roanoke. More than 60,000 square feet were transformed into cutting-edge lofts with a focus on modern design and sustainability. The Lofts at West Station feature a striking light-filled atrium, a 35-seat movie theater, and views to downtown and nearby Mill Mountain.

"We are proud of this project and the role that is has played in the ongoing urban revitalization of downtown Roanoke," said Burt Pinnock, AIA, principal. "When considered as a whole, the success of West Station makes a strong argument for how long-term engagement and quality design can bring new life to our historic neighborhoods."

The Lofts were part of a grander revitalization effort spearheaded by developer Bill Chapman of Bill Chapman Enterprises to reclaim and rebrand the neighborhood of West Station. Adjacent to a large rail yard, the area had fallen into disrepair, but both Chapman and Baskervill saw potential.

"We took a two-step approach," Chapman said. "First, we created a downtown district with a new name to convey the idea of change, and then we built high quality, design-centric space that clearly showed that change was happening. We designed and installed street banners then built The Lofts at West Station. We were 100 percent occupied in 90 days and have stayed that way ever since. The project has been a resounding success and a catalyst for further investment in the neighborhood."

Baskervill's architects and designers took advantage of the building's historic nature, reclaiming wood from the floor and roof to create the atrium. Wooden beams and original brick were left exposed, and the windows were replaced with historic replicas.

"The challenge in adaptive reuse projects is to design something contemporary and modern, while acknowledging and respecting the historic character of the building," said Kevin Jones, project architect.

Other key design elements throughout the building's common areas, including the use of historical images of Skyline Drive and a large mural by artist Ed Trask, evoke the building's place in history as a vital part of Roanoke.

The Lofts at West Station was also a finalist in the Best Mixed-Use category at the Vision Awards, and another Baskervill project, Somanath Seniors Apartments, was a finalist in two categories, including Best of Multifamily Residential and the ULI Richmond Capstone Vision Award for Building Healthy Communities.

The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. The Vision Awards recognize truly superior development efforts that support this mission.

About Baskervill Multifamily Housing
At Baskervill, we know a house comes in many forms. That's why we're leading the way in the best of multifamily housing, from stylish, modern condominiums for the up-and-coming professional to affordable and energy-efficient units for independent seniors. Baskervill is experienced in quality adaptive reuse projects, transforming unused and oftentimes historic buildings into urban dwellings that seamlessly blend in with the surrounding neighborhood. Our firm is also committed to offering the best in sustainable multifamily housing, with several EarthCraft-certified projects and a recently completed net-zero energy senior housing project. Our designers bring the latest in housing amenities to their work, including rooftop decks and gardens, private courtyards, modern layouts, energy-efficient appliances, and more.

About Baskervill
Baskervill, an international, award-winning, full-service architectural, engineering, interior design and sustainable design firm, delivers world-class services to a diverse client base, ranging from hospitality, government, education, corporate, healthcare, advanced technologies, retail, financial, and transportation technologies to Fortune 500 companies. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, Baskervill offers a rich history of ingenuity, integrity and technical expertise that has made them a premiere service provider across the country. To learn more about Baskervill or to see a project portfolio, visit www.baskervill.com.

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Media Contact:
Tracey Gould
Director of Marketing
Baskervill
804.343.1010 x155
tgould@baskervill.com