VMDO Architects

Fairfax County hired VMDO in early 2022 to develop a roadmap to transform the historic Workhouse Arts Campus, a former prison, into a vibrant mixed-use arts destination that both meets the Workhouse Arts Foundation’s strategic goals and achieves Fairfax County’s ambition to create an amenity-rich cultural icon for county residents.

The design approach started with a deep appreciation for the historic character of the site and was developed with an understanding of the technical complexities that come with rehabilitating it. With dedicated community engagement, VMDO created a Master Plan that carefully crafts relationships between the existing historic spaces and a wide range of arts programming, preserves existing ecological resources, and supports the district’s economic growth.

The multi-disciplinary master-planning effort was supported by a detailed financial feasibility study, which was of particular importance to delivering a plan that was achievable given the sheer scale of historic rehabilitation and the wide range of possible tenants and development partners.

The master plan suggests three waves of investment over twenty years and offers flexibility to allow for ongoing study and changing priorities over time: The first completes the historic rehabilitation of essential historical assets, meets The Workhouse Art Center’s most critical space needs, improves infrastructure, and drives visitation. The second wave transforms the campus experience by replacing surface parking with parking structures and green space, increases access and parking count, and creates an iconic music venue. The final wave adds a mixed-use district and completes the historic rehabilitation.

A core stakeholder committee representing various parts of the County and the Workhouse Arts Center guided the project through decision-making. The community provided input through a widely circulated survey and two public meetings, helping to ensure the goals and ambitions for the campus were met with a cohesive and sensitive plan that offers something for everyone - spaces, and programs scaled and distributed to deliver access to the arts for all Fairfax County residents. The Workhouse Arts Campus Master Plan was released in 2023 and is being used to guide and prioritize investments by the County as they begin development of this important historic resource.