Technical Reports, Community Design Assistance Center

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16 squares : the heart of Blacksburg
Steika, Kim; Deshpande, Kartiki Milind; Strumfiled, Jonathan (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2008-07-01)
CDAC worked with the 16 Squares Committee of Blacksburg to bring together an overview of historic information to cast a vision for what can be done in both the short and long term to identify, educate, preserve, and develop.
"A" Street Linear Park
Watson, Kim; Cappelleri, Brandon; Hershey, Jon (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2006-05)
The proposed “A” Street Linear Park is located in Abingdon, Virginia on a narrow 3.5 acre strip of land adjacent to the Norfolk Southern rail line and “A” Street. The purpose of this project was to develop a park design for the site that accommodates passive recreation and a connection to the existing Virginia Creeper Trail. The park will provide the town and surrounding neighborhood with a passive recreational space that caters to all age groups.
Abingdon Elementary School Discovery Trail
Watson, Kim; Parvinia, Mandana; Brown, Nathan (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2006-02)
Outdoor classrooms are fast becoming a popular installation at public and private elementary, intermediate, and high schools across the country. The idea behind an outdoor classroom is to bring the classroom learning into the outdoors, teaching topics ranging from biology to climatology to geology. This project was initiated by the Coalition for Jobs and the Environment, with the desire to provide the school with an outdoor classroom on its campus. The vision was broadened to include a “discovery trail” with a series of learning stations along its route. These learning stations would educate students on topics dealing with the outdoors, natural systems, and the built environment.
Abingdon, VA: William King Museum of Art Conceptual Campus Master Plan
Proctor, Nicholaus; Gilboy, Elizabeth; Blackburn, Grayson; Waterman, Holly (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2019-08-16)
The William King Museum of Art (WKMA) sits on approximately 22 acres of land north of Main St. in Abingdon, Virginia. The William King Museum of Art is a premier visual arts facility in the region, offering outstanding fine world art, contemporary regional art, and cultural heritage exhibits that change frequently. The outdoor grounds that surround the main facility are underutilized but have great potential to become a multi-faceted public park, which will be essential as WKMA expands their programmed activities. A campus master plan would identify appropriate uses that would transform the WKMA campus into an outdoor destination for WKMA patrons and visitors to the Abingdon area. This community-driven space would encourage collaboration between many different groups in the region. Artists, performers, educators, naturalists, athletes, families, and businesses could all benefit from the renovated grounds. The proposed features would facilitate healthy living and exercise, sustainability, community engagement, creative thinking, and play. Improved grounds would provide space for athletic, educational, and public events that could bring in participants from outside the community thus boosting the local economy and tourism in this region. The grounds would also provide a beautiful space for local schools and organizations that would benefit the town and the Museum. Ultimately, renovating the grounds of the Museum would create a space in which art and nature could be in conversation with the broader community.
Abner Clay Park Conceptual Master Plan
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Sexton, Adam; Wallace, I. Caroline (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2010-05)
Abner Clay Park is a neighborhood park in Historic Jackson Ward that occupies a portion of the block bounded by Brooks Road, Clay Street, Leigh Street, and Adams Street. Current park amenities include a tot lot, tennis courts, a baseball diamond, and an "urban plaza" with a covered gazebo. The park is surrounding primarily by residences and civic institutions such as churches and schools. Immediately adjacent to the park are basketball courts and the former Armstrong High School, which is now the Adult Career Development Center (ACDC). Ebenezer Baptist Church and the First Battalion Armory of the Virginia Volunteers (now vacant) overlook into the open field from Leigh Street. The Virginia Fire and Police Museum, Bojangles Monument, and the Black History and Cultural Center of Virginia are all just one block away from the park.

The plaza-like section of the Abner Clay Park near the intersection of Brooks Road and Clay Street, is currently underutilized. All seating was removed to deter unwanted loitering. Unfortunately, this leaves residents with no place to sit and enjoy the space informally on a day-to-day basis, or during more programmed special events. The plaza area serves as a meeting place, a starting point for tours, and a location for some neighborhood events such as the health fair. Other spaces in the park are undefined or uninviting and attract undesirable activity.
Agricultural barn : conceptual design project report
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Schellhammer, Christopher; Duda, Lauren; Kwon, Melanie; Saeidi-Rizi, Fatemeh (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2013-04-01)
Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) is a fraternal organization for those interested in all forms of agriculture. The Virginia Tech Chapter resides in a historic home surrounded by 6 acres of land on the western side of US 460. The proposed structure will have a responsibility to the programmatic needs and general budgetary limits of the AGR organization, a responsibility to the heritage of the historical site, a responsibility to the local viewsheds from surrounding roads, and to Blacksburg town regulations.
Albany, KY: Conceptual Trail Linkage Plan
Jones, Alexander; Jones, Kevin; Henry, Nik; Proctor, Nicholaus; Gilboy, Elizabeth (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2017-10)
The Albany/Clinton County community has focused much attention on enhancing the built environment for healthy and active families over the last few years. They have benefited from enhancements and resources provided through a cooperative agreement that the University of Kentucky received with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (CDC). The agreement focuses on improving health outcomes in counties with obesity rates higher than 40 percent of the population. The initiative has provided health enhancements such as a fit trail, disc golf, new water cooling stations for their schools, etc. Additionally, Mark Fenton, a national expert in active communities, has visited the community to lead walk audits and assist in the development of a bike/pedestrian plan. It is through these public conversations that citizens have identified the need for extended walking and biking trails. The City Council, Fiscal Court, Health Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Clinton County Community Foundation, and Clinton County Health Coalition members along with other community partners worked collaboratively to provide input and feedback throughout the project. The Community Design Assistance Center at Virginia Tech worked with this Stakeholders Committee and the community to develop a conceptual trail linkage plan that links as many key sites near Mountain View Park through Albany’s downtown to Albany Manor. A conceptual design for a farmer’s market structure for the downtown site was also developed.
Amherst town square conceptual design
Steika, Kim; Furedy, Eliza; Rodes, Doug (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2008-05-01)
The town of Amherst approached the CDAD to develop a plan for the town that considers previous plans and abides by the community's desires. The CDAC was asked to develop a conceptual design for the plaza area utilizing community input.
Annville Institute/Jackson County Ministries campus and campground conceptual master plan
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Browning, Lara; Davis, Brad; Walker, Harley; Gracey, Sarah; Calvert, Jared (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2012-12)
Annville Institute is located in Annville, a small town of about 1,100 residents in Jackson County, Kentucky. The Annville Institute property is located in the southern portion of the county near the intersection of highways 3630 and 290. It is located on a campus that has been designated as a historical site on the National Register and is now home to many non-profit organizations. The campus contains about 120 acres of land and occasionally is the scene for community events such as carnivals, weddings, car shows, and competitive trail rides.

Annville Institute requested that the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) develop a conceptual master plan for their property that includes an outdoor classroom, amphitheater, wedding venue, primitive camping area, archery range, and walking trail to connect the various parts of the campus. They also requested a proposal for improved signage within the campus and a master planting plan for the property. The site currently houses an equestrian center and several beehives so it was requested that particular consideration be given to plants that are beneficial to bees yet non-toxic to horses. The details of these design considerations are discussed in more detail in the following pages.

Throughout the design process, the Annville Institute Project Team, which consisted of the CDAC design team and representatives from both the Kentucky Division of Forestry and Annville Institute, worked collaboratively to develop a conceptual plan for the campus. This report documents the design process and describes the final concept that was developed.
Bedford Elks Lodge conceptual design : Prepared by the Community Design Assistance Center for the Bedford Elks Lodge #2844, Bedford, Virginia
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Korkuti, Arian; Fields, Kristin; Marshall, Ashleigh; Meier, Kerry (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2011-03)
The Elks Lodge #2844 of Bedford, Virginia hired the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) to develop a conceptual architectural design and site plan for a new Elks lodge. The Bedford Elks recently purchased a 5-acre parcel that is adjacent to the National Elks Home to build their new lodge. Due to the site’s close proximity to the grand and iconic National Elks Home, members desire the new lodge to reflect the architectural style of the National Home, while maintaining their spatial needs and budget as well as their own distinct identity. The Bedford Elks envision their new building to be capable of a variety of uses. A large banquet hall that would be functional as a meeting place for lodge members as well as a transformable space for producing revenue through event rental is desired. In addition, the lodge should contain a kitchen capable of serving the banquet hall, an Elks Room for members only, and office space. The site boasts an excellent view of the Blue Ridge Mountains as well as the National Elks Home, and a building that takes advantage of these views is desired. The Elks envision the new lodge to be a place for daily business as well as special events and would like to create a destination within the community.
Bedford, VA: The Red Barn
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Ciaverella, Antonia; Ma'bdeh, Shouib (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2008-11-28)
The ‘Red Barn’ is a structure of significant historical value and with restoration can be a valued asset to Bedford County and its future. The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) assisted the Bedford County Parks and Recreation Department in the four following areas: • Determining how the community would like to see the Red Barn used; • Measuring the building to prepare a rough as-built drawing; • Developing a conceptual design depicting those uses; • Preparing rendered sketches of the design ideas for use in fundraising.
Blacksburg Freshwater Heritage: A Conceptual Plan to Highlight History, Heritage and Environmental Stewardship at Owens Street, Spout Springs, and Five Chimneys Park
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Visconti, Autumn; Franklin, Josh (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2009-06)
The Community Design Assistance Center worked with a team of project stakeholders to develop conceptual master plans for three town-owned properties: Spout Spring Park, Five Chimneys Park, and Owens Park. Each site contains fresh water and has opportunities for enhancement and education. The plans for each site highlight the history and heritage of freshwater resources in Blacksburg through design and signage, provide recommendations to improve water quality and soil stabilization through plantings, and demonstrate possible alternatives for stormwater management.
The Town of Blacksburg is located in Montgomery County in southwest Virginia. The three parks identified for this project are in or near the town’s historic 16 squares, in the heart of Blacksburg. Spout Spring, located at the corner of Clay and Wharton Streets, is a pocket park with an historic spring on the edge of the property. Five Chimneys Park, located at the corner of Draper Road and Washington Street, offers one of the few opportunities to see Stroubles Creek above ground in downtown Blacksburg. Owens Park, located near the intersection of Owens Street and Harding Avenue, is a neighborhood park that serves as a temporary detention basin during storm events. A map in this report indicates the locations of the parks within the town.
Blacksburg Municipal Building conceptual master plan
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; Marshall, Ashleigh; Illmensee, Kaitlyn; Ly, Christine; Gasaway, Brooke; Poteet, Tish (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2012-07)
The Town of Blacksburg asked the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) to develop an updated conceptual landscape master plan for the Municipal Building to better reflect the identity of the building and the priorities of the Town. For visitors or new residents, the purpose of the building is not readily apparent and signage is hidden under vegetation.

Working directly with Town staff (Marc Verniel, Priscilla Cygielnik, John Boyer, and Beth Carson), the CDAC team developed a conceptual landscape master plan for the site that addresses identity, wayfinding, and gives a strong and welcoming first impression of the Town. Additionally, the CDAC team explored architectural improvements that could be made to enhance the buildings’ entries.
Blowing Rock, NC: American Legion Site Conceptual Design
Henry, Nik; Jones, Alexander; Proctor, Nicholaus; Gilboy, Elizabeth (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2017-08)
The most used pedestrian thoroughfares in Blowing Rock are the paths that connect Broyhill Park and adjacent parks with the downtown area. There are two sets of stairs that have worn down over the years, becoming dangerous for visitors. There is not an ADA-accessible route from Broyhill Park to the American Legion building. Further, pedestrian routes are poorly marked throughout the site and along Park Avenue, resulting in pedestrians walking in the middle of the road. The existing stairs behind the American Legion building have also been negatively affected by an erosion problem. Heavy silt deposits generated by multiple sources are adversely affecting Mayview Lake, which is fed by a North Carolina Trout Headwater. The erosion issue has led to the need of dredging Mayview Lake on a more frequent basis than normal and has begun to wash out portions of the stairs. The deteriorated state of the stairs has led, in part, to the creation of informal trails in less stable areas that add additional concern about safety and excessive erosion on the site. There was a great need to explore ways that the American Legion site can serve and function as a connector between popular destinations, but in a way that is safe for citizens and visitors. Further, there was a desire that future improvements reduce the negative impacts that poorly managed runoff has imposed on wildlife inhabiting Mayview Lake. The American Legion building site also needed a tree replacement plan for aesthetic improvements, pedestrian safety, run-off reduction, and to encourage greater species diversity among Blowing Rock’s tree population.
Bluebell Island Natural Area trail design and conceptual redesign of A.R. Matthews Park
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Steika, Kim; LaRoche, Michael; Edenfield, Caitlin; Heile, Laurel (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2012-08)
The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) worked with the Town of St. Paul and St. Paul Tomorrow, Inc. to develop a conceptual master plan for the Bluebell Island Trail as well as a redesign for A.R. Matthews Park. Bluebell Island is approximately 1.3 acres. This undeveloped natural area is owned by the town and has recently been put in a conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). The town and TNC want to see a natural surfaced trail system developed on the island to compliment the biodiversity of the area and to provide connections to existing trail systems in the area. A.R. Matthews Park, the town’s current riverside park, is adjacent to Bluebell Island and is home to the annual Clinch River Days Festival (circa 1998). This festival was created to “showcase the Clinch River, and the endangered species that exist in and around the river.” 3

The current park contains a variety of amenities (two tennis courts, a basketball court, children’s play equipment, a stage, a covered shelter, a little league stadium, and the start of a skate park) but is aging and doesn’t take advantage of its proximity to the Clinch River as well as it could. “The St. Paul’s Tomorrow Trails Team is interested in creating a new design for the park that will complement the new trail addition to Bluebell Island and create a Riverwalk that joins Oxbow Lake and the Sugar Hill Loop Trail system.” 4
Buchanan County Public Library Conceptual Landscape Redevelopment
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Watson, Kim; Ellis, Amber; Osborn, Christina (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2006-05)
Located in rural southwest Virginia in the county seat of Grundy, off of State Route 460 on the Levisa Fork River, is the Buchanan County Public Library, which serves the county’s population of 27,000. The library is not only a vital resource for books, periodicals, and audiovisual materials, but is a valuable historical archive and community center for the county. The library’s mission is to “meet the intellectual, practical, leisure, and other needs of the citizens of Buchanan County.” To that end, the library hosts guest speakers, technology workshops, numerous club and committee meetings, and many programs of interest for the community. Following the addition of a children’s wing, the library sought to create a campus that would support and enhance the library’s role as an educational and community center. Though the structure of the building is quite functional for community use, the landscape is overgrown in areas, has drainage and erosion issues, and in some areas the landscape is bare and unkempt. The Friends of the Buchanan County Public Library, seeking to address these issues and also improve the aesthetics and use of the site, enlisted the services of the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) to create a landscape plan.
Building on the dream : Claytor Subdivision : a front porch community in Radford, Virginia
Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2017)
A packet describing a proposed community in Radford to be built by Habitat for Humanity
Building on the dream : Claytor Subdivision : a front porch community in Radford, Virginia
Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2017)
A flyer describing a proposed community in Radford to be built by Habitat for Humanity.
Burnsville, NC: Streetscape and Trail Conceptual Master Plan for the Western Loop
Gilboy, Elizabeth; Philen, Melissa; Browning, Lara; Niland, Joe; Jones, Alexander; VanNoy, Jess (Virginia Tech. Community Design Assistance Center, 2015-10)
Burnsville, North Carolina, a lone incorporated town in Yancey County, is nestled at the foothills of the Black Mountain Range in Yancey County. It has 17 named peaks over 6,000 feet in elevation, including the highest mountain in the Eastern United States, Mount Mitchell, at 6,684 feet in elevation. Because of its proximity to the Black Mountain Range and Appalachian Trail, Burnsville has the potential to connect to these outdoor resources and host visitors as a trail town. Providing a trailhead, gateways into the town, and a walkable main street were forefront in this design process.

In conjunction with the North Carolina High Peaks Trail Association, the Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) developed the Western Loop Trail which traverses Burnsville’s Main Street and connects historic downtown Burnsville at the town square to the Mountain Heritage High School’s Nature Trail.

This design work includes a gateway design for the entrance to the Mountain Heritage High School, a mini-park for Cherry Lane, a streetscape design for West Main Street, and a trailhead concept at the Burnsville town square.
Castlewood, VA: Castlewood Schools Campus Conceptual Site Master Plan and Planting Designs
Harrington, Hayley (2023-12-13)
Construction of the Castlewood Schools campus began with Castlewood High School in 1948, after a fire destroyed nearby Temple Hill High School. The beautiful colonial revival building opened its doors in 1949, and Castlewood Elementary School was constructed next to the high school in 1958. The Castlewood Schools campus has not undergone any major renovations in approximately thirty years, so Russell County Public Schools (RCPS) was interested in making improvements to the site. a stakeholders committee from RCPS and CDAC collaborated to determine whether there was a better way to lay out the sports fields on the campus as well as add a tennis court, tree plantings and a mini arboretum, and pollinator plantings that may be able to support agriculture classes.

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