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Manassas Railroad Depot
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Active transportation projects include the historic rehabilitation of stations for Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express, a conceptual study for the Bus Transfer Facility for the City of Charlottesville, and the restoration of a classic Spanish Colonial Revival railroad Station in Covington, Virginia.

Manassas Railroad Depot

Manassas, VA

This station is an excellent example of a semi-rural passenger station of the early 20th-century. Prior to 1995, the use of the station had been changed and converted into a freight operation office. In 1995, the City of Manassas purchased the station, and through the use of ISTEA Federal Funds, began the process of rehabilitating and converting the station to new uses. Exterior work included the removal of an asphalt shingle roof and replacement with a Ludowici clay tile roofing system which identically matches the original construction specifications. ‘Industrial’ steel doors were removed from the exterior and replaced with custom-made wood doors matching the original 5-panel and beaded board doors for the passenger and baggage areas. Paint analysis allowed us to investigate the original color scheme, a combination of a rich barn red on the masonry with brilliant chrome-green trimwork.

Removal of the 1970s/1980s interior partitions allowed us to reconstruct the original volumes of both the “Colored” and “White” waiting rooms. These spaces, along with the centrally located ticket office, were restored to their original character.

The use of the building is shared jointly. One portion remains as a waiting room with adjacent restroom facilities for Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express passengers. The other portion of the station is now the Visitor Center for the City of Manassas. The former ticket office, located in the center of the structure, is now an exhibition space dedicated to the railroad history of Manassas.

restored exterior
museum/gallery
before restoration
Manassas Railroad Depot

Union Station

Charlottesville, VA

Abandoned for almost 30 years, the Charlottesville Union Station has been restored and rehabilitated to serve as Central Virginia’s Amtrak Station.

Built in 1885 and expanded in 1905, this “Stick-Style” building was significantly altered in its exterior appearance in 1911 when the main station house was upgraded. Our responsibilities included providing a comfortable and safe waiting area for 100, baggage handling, transfer, and storage facilities, ticketing facilities for two attendants, full wheelchair accessibility for both riders and employees, and vending and restroom facilities. Extensive site work was also included.

Our work also involved significant structural reinforcement of the original brick walls, masonry pointing of the brickwork, window and door restoration and reconstruction, and the design of an architecturally sympathetic addition for some of the new services.

Union Station
Union Station historic photo from early 1900s
Union Station

Covington C&O Railroad Depot

Covington, VA

The Covington C&O Depot Restoration involved two pivotal historic buildings. The 1895 Station, a vernacular Stick/Queen Anne-style structure of brick with deep overhanging cornices and decorative outrigger brackets, provided passenger and freight service operations until 1910 when a larger Spanish Colonial Revival-style station was built.

After many years of disuse, the City of Covington acquired both stations and the encompassing property, and developed the site to act as a cornerstone for future rehabilitation of the neighborhood. The 1910 Station has become the Headquarters, Museum, and Gallery for the Alleghany County Historical Society. The 1890 Station houses a large multipurpose room available for civic groups, as well as a small office. Of particular note is the rehabilitation of the historic clay tile roof on the 1915 Station, as well as the repair and restoration of its ornamental plaster.

exterior view
interior view
Covington C&O Railroad Depot

West Main Transportation Plaza Study

Charlottesville, VA

commercial development, Amtrak Station
concept site plan
bus shelters
West Main Transportation Plaza Study