Voting for Virginia’s Favorite Architecture is now closed. Throughout the months of November and December 2013, the public was asked to select their favorites based on design, innovation, history, or the spirit of their communities and Virginia.
The Virginia Center for Architecture will announce the top 100 structures — Virginia’s Favorite Architecture — in an exhibition opening on April 10, 2014.
The structures featured in this survey were nominated by architects throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects in 2014. The 250 works of architecture — buildings, bridges, monuments, and memorials — in this survey represent some of the best of Virginia’s rich architectural heritage.
Mead’s Tavern
City: New London
Date: 1763
Architect: Col. William Mead
County: Campbell
Rising Sun Tavern
City: Fredericksburg
Date: 1760
Architect: Charles Washington
County: Fredericksburg
Landmark Theatre
City: Richmond
Date: 1927
Architect: Marcellus Wright, Sr. and Charles M. Robinson
County: City of Richmond
Mansion on Main (Thomas House)
City: Smithfield
Date: 1889
Architect: unknown
County: Isle of Wight
John Paul Jones Arena
City: Charlottesville
Date: 2003
Architect: VMDO Architects
County: Albemarle
Rotunda, University of Virginia
City: Charlottesville
Date: 1819
Architect: Thomas Jefferson
County: Albemarle
Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
City: Winchester
Date: 2005
Architect: Michael Graves
County: Winchester
Walter L. Rice Education Building at VCU Rice River Center
City: Charles City
Date: 2009
Architect: Train and Partners Architects
County: Charles City
Designated as the first LEED Platinum building in Virginia.
St. Peter’s Church
City: New Kent
Date: 1703
Architect: Builder-Col. Joseph Foster
County: New Kent
Gadsby’s Tavern
City: Alexandria
Date: 1785-92
Architect: John Wise
County: City of Alexandria
Hereford Residential College, University of Virginia
City: Charlottesville
Date: 1992
Architect: Tod Williams and Billie Tsien
County: Albemarle
Photo © Ben Lunsford