Moseley Architects, a leader in higher education facility design, is proud to announce that Virginia Commonwealth University’s newly renovated and modernized Cary Street Recreation Center has earned LEED® Gold certification with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The existing facility was built as an open-air market in 1891 in the Oregon Hill neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia and was converted into an auditorium in the early 1900s. Part of the expansion plans called for closing the pedestrian thoroughfare known as Green Alley. Given the historical significance of capturing the alleyway and updating the beloved auditorium, the design team solicited input from both the Oregon Hill Community and Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The result is a facility that honors the past, respects its architectural context, and provides a world-class experience for the Monroe Park Campus.

The completed 125,000-square-foot center offers a four-court gym with a three-lane running track, a large climbing wall, aerobics/exercise rooms, racquetball courts, a multi-activity court gymnasium, a natatorium with leisure and lap pools, locker facilities, and offices.

“People on campus say this is the best thing we’ve ever done. Students are wowed by the center’s openness and they can’t believe that everything they want is in one place and that it is completely dedicated to them.”

Tom Diehl, Director of Recreational Sports

The design team of Moseley Architects and Hastings & Chivetta designed the project to include green building strategies in order to earn LEED Gold certification with the USGBC. Noteworthy features include: diverting 90 percent of construction waste from landfills; monitoring carbon dioxide levels to provide adequate ventilation; using recycled and regionally-manufactured materials during construction; and using cisterns to collect rainwater for irrigation purposes.