Carlin's Amoco Station
Which buildings in the Old Dominion are favorites?
That’s what Richmond’s Virginia Center for Architecture and the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) asked in a public poll last year to commemorate the centennial of the AIA in the Commonwealth.
Just under 30,000 votes later, the institutions announced “Virginia’s Favorite Architecture”—100 much loved and outstanding structures.
Each of the winning 100 is represented by a photography exhibition now on display at the VCA, 2501 Monument Ave. Hurry in — Sunday, Oct. 19 is the show’s last day.
Virginia’s architecture and architectural history is so rich and varied. There are well-known examples on the list, from the Jamestown Fort and Jefferson’s Academical Village to Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace and Bruton Parrish Church. There are plantations, too, from Mount Airy (pictured above) to Smithfield and Shirley, as well.
Other, sometimes lesser-known, buildings also make the list of favorite of buildings you’ll find across Virginia, from Alexandria (Christ Church) and Abingdon (Martha Washington Inn); Blacksburg (Virginia Tech’s Burruss Hall) and Chantilly (Dulles Airport); to Lexington (Washington and Lee’s Chapel and the Coffee Pot Building), Lofton (Gunston Hall) , Lynchburg (Point of Honor), Lyndhurst (Swannanoa) and Norfolk (Scope Arena).
After exploring the exhibition, there are some buildings I’m now terribly excited to see in person. These include Hollin Hills (1971), the midcentury modern neighborhood in Alexandria, Carlin’s Amoco Station (1947, pictured above) and the Taubman Museum of Art (2008), both in Roanoke.
And speaking of art museums, one of the “Virginia’s Favorite Architecture” winners is yet to be constructed: The VCU Institute for Contemporary Art by Steven Holl Architects + BCWH.
How many more of the top 100 buildings voted on are in Richmond metro area? Visit the exhibition and find out. And be sure to leave time for shopping in the VCA’s superb book and gift shop.
Virginia Center for Architecture is at 2501 Monument Ave. General admission is free, and hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday through Sunday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
