Virginia Tech plans to renovate its Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center in Old Town to improve accessibility with a new elevator, sprinkler system, and handicapped-accessible ramp, according to a request going before the Board of Architectural Review on Wednesday, Sept. 3.
The building at 1001 Prince Street was loaned to Virginia Tech by Alexandria in 1980, and the school bought it in 1989, according to city records.
The renovations will include the installation of an elevator to provide access to all floors and the excavation of an existing crawl space to create a sprinkler room, according to Virginia Tech. The building will be fully equipped with sprinklers.
Exterior changes include modifying an existing stair to add a concrete and masonry accessibility ramp on the north side of the building facing the parking lot.
According to Virginia Tech:
The building at 1001 Prince Street will be renovated to improve accessibility and life safety. Interior alterations include the addition of a new elevator to provide accessible access to all floors, as well as excavation of an existing crawl space to create a new sprinkler room — the building will be fully sprinklered as part of the renovations. Exterior alterations include modifying an existing concrete and masonry stair to add a new concrete and masonry ADA ramp up to the 1st floor, new ramp to be located on the north (rear) of the building facing the existing parking lot. A new exterior stair will be added to the east side of the building to provide access to a new sprinkler room. This stair will be below-grade and excavation will only disturb the existing concrete parking area.
