Inova
At a virtual public meeting held this week, representatives of Stonebridge and Inova Health System announced that they have picked Ballinger and Ennead to design the new Oakville Triangle Healthplex.
Oakville Triangle, located on the opposite side of Route 1 from the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and the Metro, will see new residential, some retail and public open space adjacent to Mount Jefferson Park. The new Inova Healthplex will feature an emergency room as well as other outpatient services and medical services.
Thomas Wong, architect at Ennead, presented the first renderings of what the Healthplex may look like. He said that they want to keep the building open, inviting and active. They will achieve this by giving the building a sculpted design that features glass on the exteriors facing the street. The drop-off area will be on Fannon Street and the emergency room will be on the first level of the building to keep nighttime light and noise lower for neighboring residents.
Inova
Sustainability will be a consideration in the design of the Healthplex with a green roof and terrace proposed on the second level, a solar shading protection strategy and plans to address stormwater issues.
At the same meeting, the City of Alexandria presented on community feedback for the new open space that will be located between the new development and Mount Jefferson Park. More than 60 community members submitted feedback for the 0.78 acre site favoring a more natural, softscape look for the park. The majority of respondents wanted the new space to be connected to Mount Jefferson Park, which the City said would undergo some improvements.
The City will prepare two concept plans for the open space this month before presenting them to the public in September. Community feedback will be used to create one park design which will be presented to the Park and Recreation Commission in October or November.
Plans for the Oakville project will undergo some additional hearings with the City. Developers propose that construction on the site should start in 2021 with a phased opening of the project in 2023.
The City is asking for community feedback on the project through Aug 18. Feedback on the presentation which will be posted here should be submitted through the online portal. Questions and community feedback can be directed to Richard Lawrence, Jr. AICP at Richard.Lawrence@alexandriava.gov or 703-746-3849.
