701 East Water Street Lobby

BRW Architects was commissioned to renovate the lobby of 701 Water Street, an office building marking the end of Charlottesville’s downtown pedestrian mall. The design not only honors the building’s prominent location but also reimagines its entry as a dynamic, welcoming space for its diverse tenants.

Drawing inspiration from the flow of the pedestrian mall itself, we reconfigured the lobby into a series of interconnected rooms. These spaces, defined by a rich variety of tactile materials, create an immersive experience—from custom Terrazzo flooring to smooth tiled walls with rough stone insets, and a baffled wood ceiling overhead. Accents of walnut highlight oversized thresholds between rooms, completing a material palette designed to evoke warmth and tranquility.

At the center of the lobby are two small gallery wings, created for public art displays. We had the pleasure of collaborating with local artist Anna Gilliam during the design process, and her work is currently featured in these gallery spaces.

Now fully transformed, the lobby at 701 Water Street serves as an extension of the pedestrian mall, rather than a termination point, inviting movement and interaction in a newly invigorated environment.