Join us at Arch Ex to celebrate the Emerging Leaders in Architecture (ELA) Class of 2026 as they unveil their project for this year: Consider how communities can leverage their assets and evolve to create the next era of urban/suburban renewal in the Staples Mill corridor in Henrico County, Virginia. The Staples Mill Road Station (RVM), in Henrico County, Virginia, has served as the busiest Amtrak station in the southeastern United States. As the primary hub for Virginia, the station serves around 500,000 people annually. Yet RVM lacks many traditional multimodal or economic options traditionally found in stations of a similar pedigree. Constructed in 1975, the station provided a by-pass route around the congested tracks through the City of Richmond. This period was marked with economic growth in the surrounding area that featured wide streets and strip retail to accommodate a vehicle centric inner suburban ring. Emphasis was placed on establishing ease of use for patrons who drove to and from the area. Over the last few decades, an increased emphasis has been placed on redevelopment of areas that were once viewed as pure infrastructure. In 2006, Amtrak established the Great American Stations project to examine how the redevelopment of train stations may help to spur growth. The program recognizes the importance of regional transportation hubs and the potential for retail and residential impact spurred by the thousands of riders who cross the platforms of stations throughout the Country.