An old prison in Virginia, USA, was transformed into an apartment complex that sold out in just one month after its launch.
The Lorton Reformatory, an old prison in Virginia, USA, which operated from 1901 to 2021, was transformed into a beautiful apartment complex that sold out in just one month after its launch.
The correctional unit, made up of several dense and dark blocks that housed the prisoners, began to be remodeled shortly after its closure and was completely renovated; the former prison and its grounds were replaced by a park, a golf course, three schools, and an arts center.
In 2008, the county began working with The Alexander Company, a Wisconsin-based construction company with experience in historical preservation and adaptive reuse, and the company proposed converting the campus into a 165-unit condominium.
In an interview with CNBC Make It, David Vos, project manager at The Alexander Company, spoke about the importance of transforming a place like the Lorton Reformatory while preserving its memories, even if they are sad.
“We really feel it’s important to preserve the history so you can learn from the past and not make the same mistakes in the future,” he said.
Vos explained how the name of the apartment complex reflects this: “The reason we chose Liberty for the name was that we really felt like we were freeing these buildings from their dark, recent past.”
The apartments were opened in June 2017, and according to Vos, all the available units were rented within a few months. The complex has been at full occupancy ever since.
“The community embraced the Liberty project with great warmth. Everyone is really proud of what we’ve done here and very pleased with the results,” Vos said.
This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
