WARREN COUNTY, Va. – Shockey is pleased to announce that the RSW Regional Jail Authority received the ACI Commonwealth Award, which recognizes concrete projects at “the forefront of innovation and technology.” The award was presented to Shockey at the Virginia Concrete Conference on March 5, 2015.
Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren counties jointly developed the $56 million regional jail. The most remarkable aspect of the design for this 180,000 square foot jail is that “it doesn’t look like a jail.” This was intentional – the front façade carefully responds to the site’s unusual zoning restrictions, as it was in a Corridor Overlay district. The jail presents a commercial appearance, making it look less like an institution and more like buildings in the community in which it resides. The facility blends in with neighboring architecture without typical features — such as razor wire, observation towers, and high mast lighting — that are often associated with a correctional institution. The jail opened with 375 beds and can be expanded to support up to 623 beds.
The large amounts of concrete specified in the project also aided in its LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Specific concrete contributions to the project’s sustainability include:
- The concrete (precast and cast-in-place) was made with fly ash, a recycled waste material from coal-fired power plants.
- All concrete manufacturing and raw material extraction occurred within 500 miles of the project site.
- 100% of the concrete and concrete masonry unit waste was recycled, thereby diverted from being placed in a landfill.
Winchester-based Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc. served as the general contractor. Moseley Architects led the architecture and engineering team.
As the winner of the Commonwealth’s award program, the project is eligible to compete for the national 2015 Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards. It was submitted to a national jury in February. National winners will be announced at the American Concrete Institute’s Fall Convention in Denver, Colorado.
###