The Center of Developing Entrepreneurs (CODE) represents a cutting-edge sustainable project in downtown Charlottesville, featuring a new public plaza and 215,000 square feet of versatile multi-use space. The project includes a thoughtful combination of co-working areas, office spaces, shared amenities, and retail spaces.
Project team
EskewDumezRipple (associate architect and interior design)
WOLF ACKERMAN (architect of record)
Fox & Associates (structural)
Timmons Group (civil)
2RW (m/e/p)
Gregg Bleam Landscape Architect (landscape)
DKT Lighting (lighting design)
STRUCTR Advisors (sustainability)
Thorton Tomasetti (energy modeling)
MSTB (commissioning)
General Contractor: Hourigan
Client: CSH Development
Sources
Glazing: Guardian
Doors: CR Laurance; Kawneer
Ceilings: Arktura; Hunter Douglas
Carpet: Bentley
Lighting: MP Lighting; Lumenpulse
Project photography by Alan Karchmer
Conceived by an investor and University of Virginia (UVA) graduate with a commitment to community giving, CODE aims to nurture local innovations in information technology, clean energy, and related fields, preventing the migration of groundbreaking ideas and talent outside the region. Situating the project on the mall underscores a dedication to walkability, but the challenge lay in seamlessly integrating the project’s substantial size with the intimate scale of the mall. The design team addressed this by stair-stepping the massing from the mall towards the Main and Water streets intersection, further spiraling up to meet the scale of Water Street. The design incorporates occupiable terraces and green roofs, enhancing the aesthetic and functional aspects of the project.
Extensive simulations were conducted to evaluate the impact not only on energy consumption but also on the shadows cast upon existing trees. At ground level, the brick gives way to a glazed first story, revealing a dynamic public space designed to invigorate the street and foster connectivity. This interior plaza extends the Main Street thoroughfare, connecting directly to Water Street, promoting accessibility between adjacent areas and seamlessly integrating additional retail space into the surrounding pedestrian mall.
Informed by peer-reviewed research highlighting the positive effects of lower carbon dioxide levels on knowledge workers, the project employs a palette of low-emission materials. The building’s ventilation system exceeds standard fresh air flow by over double while maintaining energy efficiency at one-third of the benchmark office building. Carbon emissions associated with construction materials were continually assessed, resulting in a 32% coverage of native plants on the site and a 73% reduction in energy use intensity compared to the benchmark.
Inspired by historic context, the building envelope incorporates modern rain screen technology, combining brick cladding and punched window openings for superior insulation, thermal comfort, and water intrusion protection.
The evolving nature of coworking informed the design team’s research, ensuring a harmonious blend of office and coworking space. Collaborating closely with a client representative, the team strived to create an environment that embraces the evolving nature of work, balancing formal and informal elements to establish a distinctive atmosphere. Every interior element, from furniture to artwork, was meticulously selected to cultivate a warm and inviting ambiance.
CODE is LEED Platinum certified, surpassing LEED standards with advanced systems and technologies that enhance fresh air exchange, natural ventilation, and generous daylighting.
EskewDumezRipple and WOLF ACKERMAN team
EskewDumezRipple — José Alvarez, Noah Marble, Steve Dumez, Z Smith, Tyler Guidroz, Jill Traylor, Max Katz, Shannon Griffin, Tom Gibbons, Alex Swiggum, Kelsey Wotila, project team
WOLF ACKERMAN — Fred Wolf, Dave Ackerman, Mark Merolla, Joey Laughlin, project team
