University of Virginia West Lawn Accessibility Design

In 2016, RHI was commissioned to create barrier-free connections between the upper two terraces of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the historic West Lawn. Exhaustive stakeholder consultation and numerous design alternatives ultimately resulted in the installation of two permanent brick ramps on The Lawn’s west side, making much-needed connections between the three central terraces. Through detailed studies, objective perspectives, and collaborative design processes RHI met the challenge of artfully inserting barrier-free circulation features into an iconic setting while establishing a precedent for inclusion and equity at historic sites. This project earned RHI a Commendation in General Design from the ASLA Virginia Chapter in 2020.