Rockbridge County Courthouse Awarded VCC Better Models Award By Patte Wood Staff Reporter   Winchester, Virginia (May 20, 2009) - Rockbridge County will receive the Setting the Standard with Public Buildings award at Valley Conservation Council’s (VCC) Better Models for Development awards ceremony in Winchester. It is being recognized for the new county courthouse in Lexington. “For a building of such massive scale, the location and the design work well and even offer the city some new ways to extend its downtown core,” said Sara Hollberg, Valley Conservation Council Planner. “This is a community that works hard on both historic preservation and encouraging new development to have the same lasting quality. The courthouse sets a high standard for other local government projects.” The Rockbridge County Courthouse adds a new civic building of impressive design and stature to Lexington. An essential goal was to have the building close to the core of downtown. Redeveloping a site one block off the main street made it possible to incorporate a building of this scale. It hugs the corner nearest downtown, features classical design, and uses traditional limestone foundation and brick construction. A three-tier parking deck adds welcome additional parking, and a green roof on the top of the deck provides an attractive outdoor space while serving a utilitarian function. This year, VCC recognized ten projects that serve as models for development in the Shenandoah Valley region. These are good examples of how to grow in ways that respect local character, create livable communities, complement historic resources, and conserve natural assets. The awards include projects from Winchester, Berryville, Woodstock, and New Market as well as Warren, Augusta, Rockbridge, Bath, and Botetourt counties. The ceremony takes place at Winchester’s George Washington Hotel, the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Landmark Restoration Project award. "The issue is not whether we will continue to grow, but where and how we want to grow," said John Eckman, Valley Conservation Council’s Executive Director. "These projects prove that development not only can fit the character of our traditional communities but also add to it."      The projects demonstrate one or more of the principles outlined in VCC’s Better Models for Development in the Shenandoah Valley. VCC’s website has more information about the publication and profiles of previous award winners. VCC’s Better Models for Development website: www.valleyconservation.org/betterdev.html

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