Brian Tomaino
Woodlawn Neighborhood Center Fort Belvoir, Va.
Fort Belvoir’s Woodlawn neighborhood used to be an example of the ills of cul-de-sacs, which separated and fragmented the community. Then Torti Gallas and Partners won a design competition with a plan to tie the community of military housing together by connecting the cul-de-sacs and building a community center in the middle. The new LEED Gold–certified building, which includes meeting spaces and a fitness center, takes inspiration from a nearby Frank Lloyd Wright home, and its narrow windows serve a practical purpose as well. To resist terrorist attacks, the window size was restricted and the glass laminated and mounted in specially designed frames. The recreation complex also includes a pool, community gardens, and a dog park.
