University of Virginia’s Gaston & Ramazani Student Houses

The University of Virginia’s Gaston and Ramazani Houses project helped realize the university’s goal of creating a vibrant, walkable campus community. Positioned at the southern gateway of Brandon Avenue’s “Green Street,” the two residence halls introduce a distinctive apartment-style living model designed for upper-class students.

The project was delivered through a design-build approach. Vanderweil advanced the project design through the early construction document phase. Following contractor selection, Vanderweil provided construction administration and oversight on behalf of the owner throughout project execution. Residences are organized as 16-bed apartments distributed across two levels and linked by an internal staircase. Within each apartment, students are grouped into two eight-bed clusters, which are further divided into four-bedroom suites. Each suite includes a kitchen, a full bathroom, and a half-bath, encouraging both close-knit living and broader community interaction.

Vanderweil provided MEP/FP, technology systems, and sustainability consulting services for the project. Utilizing a design-build delivery method, the team guided the design through the early construction document phase before transitioning into an owner-representative role during construction.

Designed with sustainability in mind, the project incorporates a high-efficiency mechanical system and water-saving strategies that position it to achieve LEED Gold certification.