West Grace Student Housing and Laurel Parking Deck

The West Grace Student Housing and Laurel Parking Deck at Virginia Commonwealth University features a 161,000 sf, five-story student housing building and a new independent 98,700 sf, five-level parking structure for 212 cars. The facility included 122 units for 459 beds and two private courtyard gardens, ground-level retail bays, and a new sculptural steel and glass trellis entrance.

The hybrid student housing structure utilized pre-engineered light-gauge metal roof trusses, hollow core precast concrete floor plank, light-gauge metal bearing/shear walls, and a composite steel-framed transfer level at the second floor to provide an open floor plate at the ground level for office and community spaces. In addition, the parking structure is constructed of pre-cast concrete double-T’s supported on pre-cast concrete bearing walls and girders. The facility achieved a LEED Silver certification.