Commonwealth Architects' Projects Honored at Golden Hammer Awards

November 20, 2009

Commonwealth Architects' rehabilitation of the former Miller & Rhoads Department Store and of Movieland at Boulevard Square were recently honored by the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods at the 2009 Golden Hammer Awards.

Miller & Rhoads was honored for Excellence in the Best Commercial Renovation category, and Bow-Tie Cinema's Movieland at Boulevard Square received Special Recognition as a "stunningly successful" adaptive reuse project.

Built in the late 1800s, the former Miller & Rhoads building is a centerpiece in Richmond's downtown revitalization effort. Commonwealth Architects provided architectural, interior architectural and engineering services for the conversion of the historic Miller & Rhoads Department Store into an elegant space for dining, shopping and living in downtown Richmond. This comprehensive rehabilitation project transformed the abandoned building into a premier mixed-use development, including residential space, a Hilton Garden Inn, and retail and dining spaces.

Movieland at Boulevard Square involved the transformation of a 19th-century former locomotive manufacturing warehouse into a cinema complex. The site's unique rail history was incorporated into the design of the building and of the landscape. The project has brought first-run movies back to the city, while also honoring the City of Richmond's history and architectural heritage.

The annual Golden Hammer Awards ceremony celebrates excellence in historic renovation, urban infill projects, and neighborhood revitalization. They are awarded by the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods, a non-profit organization seeking to promote the continuing revitalization of Richmond's historic communities.