Workhouse Arts Center
Lorton, VA
Size:
15,000 SF; two buildings and a plaza
The Lorton Correctional Complex was established in 1910 and originally served as an alternative prison for the District of Columbia, where time served focused on rehabilitation as opposed to punishment. Following closure, the ownership of the campus was transferred to Fairfax County in 2002. Today, the campus has been adaptively reused to serve as an arts and education center named the Workhouse Arts Center.
Facility management of the arts center presented the department of public works with multiple challenges. Maintenance was a reoccurring cost while the under-utilized site permitted existing smaller outbuildings to fall into disrepair and become attractive nuisances. The workhouse campus lacked the critical mass of activity to energize the arts environment and required additional security to patrol vacant areas.
A solution was devised to convert existing vacant spaces from ongoing cost and security liabilities to leasable income producing properties. By bringing place-making social activity spaces to the property the whole campus would benefit from including destination businesses that could draw the public into the arts center and provide a new gateway that served to publicize the vibrant activity within. The leases from revenue generating businesses would offset the cost of maintaining the historic campus.
The focus of our work was the preservation and adaptive reuse of the original guard dormitories that were originally built in the 1930’s. Buildings W-13 & W-15, as they were called, were in dramatic disrepair until we converted the spaces into leasable spaces targeting a small café and a microbrewery that share a common outdoor patio.
The property is nestled next to mile marker 17 on Route 123, adjacent to the bike trail. Another success of the project was creating a connection from the public to private areas of the Workhouse campus. Leveraging the high visibility from both bikers and motorists, we extended the architectural language of the site into the adjacent bike trail. The brick pavers serve as a visual queue for bikers to take a break from the trail and explore the campus. To better engage those traveling on Route 123, colorful signage highlights the attractions and businesses within Workhouse.
We updated the asphalt on the main thoroughfare, Workhouse Way, with brick pavers. This design decision not only created a timeless look that complements the design language of the existing structures but also goes beyond aesthetics. The easy-to-maintain and highly durable brick pavers were chosen for their ability to withstand heavy traffic. This allows food trucks to visit Workhouse and further expands the list of experiences visitors can enjoy. Crosswalk speed tables were also added to bolster the walkable safety for pedestrians.
A brand-new function of the campus was created via a Perma Trak concrete boardwalk system that connects the two renovated buildings. This flexible space creates intimate gathering areas for those enjoying a beer from the brewery, a snack from a food truck or simply taking a rest from the bike trail.
There were several challenges inherent in renovating century-old buildings. The existing building structures were not originally constructed to support the loads inherent with new assembly use and required major structural upgrades. This included modifying the existing column footings and reinforcing the existing second floor beams with new steel. The roof framing and slate roof were stabilized with the addition of new structural wood columns and wood beams. Also, the buildings required removal of all hazardous materials including lead-based paint and asbestos.
The site had a multidimensional slope that was further complicated by an existing steam tunnel trench that ran around the buildings' entire perimeter. Our team championed the challenge of making the site ADA accessible through thoughtful techniques, including terraced landscaping, site grading, and construction of a new boardwalk atop a bio-filter adorned with native flora. The extensive use of native plants and trees throughout the site enhances the visitor’s comfort and sensory experience.
Our renovations are a success, as Workhouse quickly courted a tenant for the renovated space, Bunnyman Brewing. Our team extended the life expectancy of the buildings through careful reinforcement and repair of the historic exterior including brick, roofs, and wood windows. Our work breathed new purpose into fabric of the site and will allow the structure to serve the community for many years to come. The result flipped the script on buildings that were a formerly a tax burden into contributing members of the built community that positively influence the greater complex as a whole.
