The Boathouse is a Golden Winner

Friday, November 20, 2009

Last Thursday, the Alliance to Conserve Old Richmond Neighborhoods (A.C.O.R.N.) announced that The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing won their 2009 Golden Hammer award for “best commercial renovation.”
 
The annual award recognizes the top renovation projects throughout the city, and honors rehabilitated properties in Richmond’s blighted and/or oldest neighborhoods that bring new life to the buildings and their communities.

The Boathouse is located in the Rocketts’ Power Plant Building. Originally built in 1910, the building’s former heyday centered on its use as a steam-driven electric power generating plant that provided electricity for a portion of Richmond’s trolley car system.

In a complete transformation, the old Power Plant Building now houses Richmond’s only riverfront restaurant and blends its industrial history with contemporary architecture. Criteria for the contest were strict and placed emphasis on the quality of materials used and architectural design of the restoration, as well as the building’s community impact.

Developer Richard Souter, Vice President of WVS Companies, expressed satisfaction with their recognition. “It’s a great honor winning the award. For us, it’s always been a building we’ve wanted to do. By enhancing the natural structure, we’ve essentially recreated an iconic building that will stand for many years to come.”

Souter pointed out that they did not receive tax credits for restoring the building. Consequently, they were able to have creative flexibility. A few of the standout restoration features include an exterior staircase and elevator supported by steel structures, glass walls on the 4th floor, the preserved smokestack and a butterfly roof.

According to Souter, having the right tenant for the building was also an integral component.

“One of the big tricks with a building like this is finding a tenant who shares your vision, someone who can stand the test of time and deliver on the shared vision,” said Souter.

To Souter and his team, The Boathouse fulfilled that mission and beyond.