Commonwealth Architects Receives ULI Richmond Vision Award

December 22, 2011

Commonwealth Architects was honored with a 2011 Visions Award from the Urban Land Institute Richmond (ULI) for the Miller & Rhoads Mixed Use Project, located in downtown Richmond, Virginia. Named the Most Innovative Project, winners were announced at ULI's Vision Award Reception on November 30.

The Miller & Rhoads Mixed Use Project successfully transformed the historic department store by blending contemporary uses within the framework of the building's history. This comprehensive rehabilitation converted the abandoned building into a premier mixed-use development, including residential units, a hotel, retail space and dining. It was recognized as the Most Innovative Project for its contribution to excellence in design and innovative development practices, which promote the responsible use of land and resources and for its contribution in creating thriving and sustaining developments in the community.

The award is a tribute to the vision of the project's developers, HRI Properties and ECI Development Services, as well as to the partnerships developed with the City of Richmond and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The Miller & Rhoads rehabilitation brought much needed hotel accommodations and urban living development to the City Center District of downtown Richmond.

In addition to the ULI award, the Miller & Rhoads project was honored by the Greater Richmond Association for Commercial Real Estate (GRACRE) as the Best Mixed-Use Project in 2010 and by the AIA Richmond Chapter with an Award of Merit in 2010.