VIRGINIA TECH UNIVERSITY

INNOVATION CAMPUS
PLAN
2020 Michigan ASLA Awards July 17, 2020
 BEYOND BOUNDARIES
Impact and inclusion for the next
generation of computer scientists

Founded in 1872 under the auspices of the Morrill Act, Virginia

Tech has consistently pursued the land-grant mission: the
research and discovery agenda reflect the priorities and needs
of society, and the resulting knowledge is made accessible
to students and the public for the benefit of society. After
more than 150 years as an institution with a national profile,
President Sands has challenged Virginia Tech to become a
global land-grant, to expand “beyond boundaries” of geography
and discipline to achieve international impact and recognition.
Central to this venture is the creation of transdisciplinary
research and teaching communities, or “Destination Areas,”
and a university-wide effort to develop human-centered
technologies and solutions.
Computer science and engineering are the virtual languages
of the 21st Century. Its insights will help to unlock the next
breakthrough concepts and implementation in all disciplines
and industries. Its influence will impact all layers of society.
CS research will ultimately be human-centered, adding new
capabilities and range to the human experience.

The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus is a signal of VT’s

commitment to advance beyond boundaries, providing strategic
investment in the National Capital Region, an inclusive setting
for next-generation research in Computer Science and a global
platform for partnering that will expand the university’s reach
into the 22nd-century.

2 2020 Michigan ASLA Awards   Virginia Tech Innovation Campus

RENDERING AND QUOTE

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THE INNOVATION DISTRICT The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus sits within a constellation of critical
cultural and technological assets. To leverage these relationships and
attract top talent, the campus will be the anchor within a walkable, vibrant,
mixed-use district. Just blocks from the new Amazon headquarters in
A Regional Tech Hub National Landing, the site was the former North Potomac Yard, a massive
rail yard that was once a centerpiece of the regional freight network.

4 2020 Michigan ASLA Awards   Virginia Tech Innovation Campus

The Virginia Tech design team has been in constant collaboration with the
Innovation District developer and design team to ensure the neighborhood
is unified, well connected, and incorporates district scaled systems. The
city reviews progress consistently through the process to ensure it meets
the goals of the community. As a modern campus within a traditional
community, the teams focus on creating great places to foster the human
experience.

NORTH POTOMAC YARD DISTRICT

VIRGINIA TECH INNOVATION

NORTH POTOMAC YARD CAMPUS
INNOVATION DISTRICT

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 NATIONAL LANDING
(AMAZON HQ2)
FOU
RM
ILE
RU
N
REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT

VIRGINIA TECH
INNOVATION
CAMPUS

EXISTING MOVIE
THEATER AND
SURFACE PARKING

POTOMAC RIVER

“Virginia Tech serves as a model community for a sustainable

society. Sustainability is an integral part of the fabric of the
university as it pursues enhanced economic stability and
affordability, diversity and inclusion, environmental stewardship,
expansion of knowledge, and education of future leaders.”
(VIRGINIA TECH 2017-2018 SUSTAINABILITY ANNUAL REPORT)

6 2020 Michigan ASLA Awards   Virginia Tech Innovation Campus

FROM PARKING TO PEOPLE
Reclaiming + Reconnecting

From massive rail yard to surface parking lot, the Innovation District site
is ripe for transformation. The existing movie theater and parking will be
removed and the street grid reconnected. A new linear park will line the
remaining rail line and connect to a central green corridor through the new
development. The site overlooks the George Washington Memorial Parkway
and the Potomac River, though the views are obstructed at grade.

Multiple modes of access are available including a new Metro rail stop,
central bus hub, non-motorized path through the park, and bike lanes in
the street network.

OPEN SPACE NETWORK

VEHICULAR NETWORK PEDESTRIAN + NON-MOTORIZED NETWORK

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 BLACKSBURG INSPIRED
Translated for the urban environment

Virginia Tech is proud of its main campus in Blacksburg, VA. The

surrounding hills contain the campus with its series of architectural
portals which open to courtyards and wide open spaces like the Drill Field.

The design concept draws from the unfolding and layering of the
surrounding hills and translates the traditional Hokie Stone and limestone
forms into a more modern, urban language. The experience of passing
through portals is integral to the new campus design.

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THE PLAN MET
RO R
AIL

A campus in the city

The campus will include three buildings totalling 600,000 square feet.
Building 1 will be the first to be constructed, with 300,000 square feet. It
will be the tallest of the buildings, stepping down in height from south to POTOMAC YARD PARK
north.

The buildings frame the campus open spaces and enclose the campus into
a recognizable destination, but open up to meet Potomac Yard Park and the
new mixed-use pedestrian street.

K RD.
PAR

ACADEMIC BU

Entry
Plaza
N

0 30 60 120 ft

10 2020 Michigan ASLA Awards   Virginia Tech Innovation Campus SITE PLAN
 ters
n Plan
e ntio
-ret
Bio INNOVATION CENTER

ACADEMIC BUILDING 2
Elevated
Crosswalk

Curbless
Plaza

Rainwater
Cistern Entry ACTIVE RETAIL STREET
The Hub -
Plaza
Flexible Plaza
Campus
Green

Bio-

Bio-retention Planters
retention
Bridge

E. REED ST.
Crossing NEIGHBOR-
UILDING 3 ACADEMIC BUILDING 1 HOOD GREEN

Flexible Plaza +
Service Area

Bio-retention Planters

Future Street POTOMAC AVE.

Connection

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SITE ORGANIZATION
N

0 40 80 160 ft

12 2020 Michigan ASLA Awards   Virginia Tech Innovation Campus

EDGES, ENTRANCES, AND FACADES

CAMPUS GREEN FROM BUILDING 1 UPPER TERRACE

POTOMAC
BUILDING 3 YARD PARK

OPEN SPACE NETWORK

BUILDING 2

CAMPUS
GREEN

SERVICE AND LOADING ACCESS

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THE HUB
A Flexible Plaza for Collaboration

The south plaza flows out into the curbless district streets, welcoming
in the community. It is a place for gathering and collaboration, where
students and professionals can come together, and where future computer
scientists can brush up against current students and faculty.

Low Hokie Stone walls create edges for sitting, with native landscape
emerging from the pavement. The building first floors will be completely
visually permeable and will be animated at night with activity within.

2
14 2020 Michigan ASLA Awards   Virginia Tech Innovation Campus
 3
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THE PORTAL
Entry Plaza and Transition Zone

Buildings 1 and 2 share an entry plaza where the buildings converge at

their narrowest point. Acting as a portal, it replicates the Blacksburg
campus experience of narrowing before opening into a larger common
green. The Hokie stone walls throughout are reinterpreted with modern
detailing, with simple coursing and a limestone cap that folds down the
edges and transitions into curbs..

1
2

16 2020 Michigan ASLA Awards   Virginia Tech Innovation Campus

1 2
17
 1
18 2020 Michigan ASLA Awards   Virginia Tech Innovation Campus
 THE CAMPUS GREEN
A Nexus for Campus and Community

The campus green emulates the traditional campus lawn. It is framed by

buildings and landscape and shaded by canopy trees. It supports larger
tented events as well as gatherings to live stream Virginia Tech sporting
events. Beneath the green sits the stormwater cistern that collects water
from the three surrounding buildings.

Site stormwater is conveyed to a bioretention area which is bridged over to

serve as the west gateway to the campus.

3
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BELOW GRADE PARKING The campus will provide all of its parking below-grade, accessed from
a single ramp on Park Road. The parking sits below the south plaza and
flexible service plaza. The sectional grading accommodates up to five feet
of planting depth in the south plaza to support large trees and shrubs.
Maximizing land value and utilization

SECTION 2
PARKING
ACCESS RAMP
N

0 60 120 240ft

SECTION 3
SE
CT
IO
N1

UNDERGROUND PARKING PLAN

20 2020 Michigan ASLA Awards   Virginia Tech Innovation Campus

 BUILDING 1
BUILDING 1 BUILDING 2

SECTION 1 0 30 60 120 ft SECTION 2 0 30 60 120 ft

BUILDING 3 BUILDING 1

SECTION 3 0 30 60 120 ft

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A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
A shared vision SUSTAINABILITY ASPIRATIONS:
„ Promote health and wellbeing
of occupants
The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and the Academic Building is an „ Create an environment that is
opportunity to enhance Virginia Tech’s status as a leader in sustainability. inclusive for all users
The design achieves each of these goals by working collaboratively, „ Design in response to climate,
drawing on the expertise of a team, using an integrative design approach. embracing low/no-cost passive
The result is a design whose various components and systems work design opportunities
together in harmony, resulting in a solution that is better than the sum of „ Embrace system strategies,
its parts. . and challenge scale for greater
economies
The site sits just outside the projected boundary for sea level rise in 2100,
„ Use no on-site combustion
so the sense of responsibility to mitigate climate change impacts was at of fossil fuels and find
the forefront of the planning effort. A combination of deployed strategies sustainable low-carbon
include extensive photovoltaic energy generation, a geothermal grid, supplies
sewage wastewater energy exchange, and green roofs. „ Understand current and future
energy intensity of programs
Stormwater is managed on site with a cistern that collects water from the and aspire to achieve net-zero
building roofs, and a bioretention area that collects surface stormwater. energy on site
Streetscape planters incorporate bioretention for nearly 100% of the „ Minimize embodied energy
sidewalk area, as well. and low-carbon, robust and
maintainable materials
Material selection addresses heat island reduction through hardscape
materials with low SRI ratings and through extensive shade trees. The sun „ Anticipate future disruptions
by signing to maximize
and shade study illustrates significant shading from the buildings which
resiliency
will mitigate excessive summer heat.
„ Design for operations and
The landscape is organized and planted to maximize biophilic effects, with flexibility and behavioral
native species and hardy varietals planted in naturalistic patterns. interface
„ Celebrate life, connections,
innovations, and Virginia Tech’s SEA-LEVEL RISE AND FLOODING IMPACTS
mission
ANTICIPATED IN 2100

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SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS
A “SOLAR POWER PLANT”
A comprehensive approach Various PV strategies applied to the building massing optimize for
solar radiation, providing a total of 641,037 kWh annual electricity
generation

The city of Alexandria has set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2040 and the
integrated design of the site and building strives to support that vision.
Virginia Tech is committed to minimizing the carbon footprint, so the plan
is rooted in aggressive energy conservation. This is accomplished through:
1. Setting performance targets, benchmarking similar, regional facilities.
2. Exploring campus and district scale approaches, finding synergies, and
leveraging the economy of scale in district approaches.
3. Prioritizing passive design strategies, harnessing the sun, wind, 3. PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL ROOF CANOPY: 407,347 KWH/YEAR

Potomac, and earth to reduce energy use.

4. Optimizing orientation with computer modeling for natural
ventilation, exterior sun-shading, daylighting, creating indoor/outdoor
environments, gradient conditioning, and expanding thermal comfort
zones.
5. Selecting highly efficient systems, using a life-cycle cost perspective
that considers both up-front costs as well as operational cost savings.
6. Sizing renewable energy systems to meet the remaining demand for the
building and the campus, and partnering with the district to understand 2. BUILDING INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC: 77,427 KWH/YEAR

off-site opportunities.

1. PHOTOVOLTAIC GLASS FINS: 156,263 KWH/YEAR

24 2020 Michigan ASLA Awards   Virginia Tech Innovation Campus

SEWAGE WASTEWATER ENERGY EXCHANGE AND GEOTHERMAL GRID
+/- 50% reduction of energy use vs conventional MEP systems

HPB
1 DOAS w/ parallel conditioning

PRIME THERMAL GENERATION

2 Heat Recovery Chillers

MULTI-SOURCE ENERGY EXCHANGE

3 Deep Foundation Energy Piles

4 Pump Station with Virginia Tech Sewer Waste

5 Vertical Borefield

AUXILIARY HEATING, COOLING, HEAT REJECTION

6 CT, AC Chiller, Evaporative Fluid Cooler, Dry Cooler
(phased out over time)

7 ASHP, solar thermal (phased out over time)

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THE FUTURE IS NOW MET
RO R
AIL

Putting the first pieces in place

While the surrounding Innovation District is being constructed, the first

phase of the Innovation Campus will be completed. This includes all of the
signature campus spaces, which will set the tone and establish the role of POTOMAC YARD PARK
the campus in the larger community.

Future below-grade parking beneath the south plaza will require the space
to be reconstructed. Unit pavers and modular curbs and walls will enable
material reuse, and fast-growing landscape materials will be selected to
provide shade and structure in the interim. The stormwater management
features will all be in place, with the exception of the bioretention planters
adjacent to Park Road.
K RD.
PAR
With the campus spaces in place, the first academic building will be
able to integrate the outdoor environment into its program and attract
the faculty and students that will drive the next generation of computer
science in the region and beyond.

SURFACE PARKI

Temporary
Parking Ram

Plaza
N

0 30 60 120 ft

26 2020 Michigan ASLA Awards   Virginia Tech Innovation Campus SITE PLAN
 INNOVATION CENTER

SURFACE PARKING
Elevated
Crosswalk

Curbless
Plaza

The Hub -
Rainwater Flexible Plaza
Cistern (requires reconstruction when ACTIVE RETAIL STREET
Entry future phase below grade parking
is constructed)
Plaza
Campus
Green

Bio-

Bio-retention Planters
retention
ING Bridge

E. REED ST.
Crossing NEIGHBOR-
ACADEMIC BUILDING 1 HOOD GREEN
y
mp Flexible Plaza +
Service Area

Bio-retention Planters

Future Street POTOMAC AVE.

Connection

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