LIBERTY LORTON

Who would have thought that prison would be an ideal home? As unlikely as it sounds, that is exactly the case for Liberty Lorton, the former penitentiary turned residential community in North Virginia, United States.

First built in 1910, the complex embodied then US President Theodore Roosevelt’s vision of a humane and peaceful rehabilitation center. Instead of the traditional cramped cell blocks, light and airy dormitories were built. A baseball diamond was provided to allow the prisoners to get a good workout and build camaraderie. The architecture of the complex was characterized by Colonial Revival style, with its multipane windows, rectangular blocks and brick façade.

By the 1980s however, the visionary prison was already deteriorating. Due to a shortage in housing in the nearby towns, the prison was eventually sold off to a developer. With the help of the local community and council, Liberty Lorton was transformed to a mixed-use complex featuring residences and retail spaces.

Today, the complex has been transformed into a variety of housing types: apartments, townhomes, single family dwellings and low-cost housing. The former baseball field is now a 2-acre community field dubbed

Liberty Greens, which serve as a setting for concerts, community bazaars and film showings. Meanwhile, the prison dining hall and communal kitchen became an amenity center, with a gym, yoga studio, community lounge room and an outdoor pool.

Despite initial apprehension, the homes were easily sold off. Nowadays, 40,000 sq ft of retail space and 30,000 sq ft of office space are in the works. The developer is also planning to integrate a cross-country bike trail within the community. Overall, Liberty Lorton is an example of a building that executes adaptive re-use and mixed-use design quite well, turning a historic correctional facility into a functional neighborhood.