Virginia Square Metro Plaza
Overview
Virginia Square Metro Plaza was created through the collaborative efforts of artists Tom Ashcraft and Y. David Chung, SmithGroup architects, and Stephenson & Good landscape architects. The team designed a modern piazza to include both functional and aesthetic components consisting of benches, planters, a fountain, a clock tower, and a commemorative medallion.
Formerly the site of a quiet neighborhood metro station, today this square is a colorful hub of activity. Interlocking concrete pavers unify the expansive, pedestrian-friendly plaza and mimic the curvature of the adjacent building. Adding to the curvilinear motif are flower-filled planters and a cylindrical fountain, both of which activate the plaza during warm weather. Pale-blue boat-shaped benches provide seating for commuters and allude to modes of transportation.
Four clocks mounted on a towering steel belfry tell the time while a cast bronze medallion, embedded in the pavement, recognizes the nearby Arlington Arts Center. Built in 1910 as a schoolhouse, the recently renovated center now supports the visual arts through exhibitions, studio space, and educational programs. The building is owned by Arlington County.
Learn more about Tom Ashcraft and Y. David Chung.