Facility Overview

Student Parking - Lot B1 is a dedicated campus parking facility serving the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), located at 5184 Dawes Avenue in Alexandria, Virginia. Configured primarily as an outdoor, open-air surface parking area, Lot B1 provides direct, grade-level parking for registered students, faculty, and visiting guests. Because it is an open-air surface facility without overhead structural beams or low ceilings, it offers unrestricted vertical clearance, making it exceptionally accommodating for standard passenger cars, large pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, and roof-rack-equipped vehicles. Clearly marked driving aisles, directional arrows, and standard stall dimensions facilitate smooth traffic circulation and effortless maneuvering throughout the lot.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Situated in the West End area of Alexandria near the Mark Center corridor, Lot B1 is strategically positioned immediately adjacent to key higher-education and cultural landmarks on the NOVA Alexandria Campus:

• The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center: Located within a short 3 to 5-minute walk, this premier regional venue hosts symphonies, theatrical performances, dance recitals, and academic conferences.
• NOVA Alexandria Academic Buildings: The Bisdorf Building (AA), Tyler Building, and the campus bookstore/student services are within a convenient 2 to 4-minute walk across campus paths.
• Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site: Just over 1 mile east, offering scenic historic walking paths, Civil War earthwork fortifications, and picnic grounds.
• Mark Center & Winkler Botanical Preserve: Approximately 1 mile away, offering quiet woodland trails, nature preserves, and major Department of Defense office complexes.
• Shops at Mark Center: Located less than a mile south along Beauregard Street, featuring casual eateries, coffee shops, grocery shopping, and daily retail conveniences.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress to Lot B1 are managed via Dawes Avenue, connected directly from North Beauregard Street and Seminary Road. Motorists arriving via major regional thoroughfares enjoy immediate proximity to Interstate 395 (Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway, Exit 4), providing seamless connectivity north toward Arlington, the Pentagon, and Washington, D.C., as well as south toward Springfield and the Capital Beltway (I-495). For public transit users, the NOVA Alexandria campus is served directly by Alexandria DASH Bus lines and WMATA Metrobus routes connecting to King Street-Old Town and Pentagon Metro stations, making multimodal travel straightforward and reliable.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

• Open-air surface parking design with clear, unobstructed vertical clearance.
• Dedicated ADA-accessible parking spaces situated near paved pedestrian walkways with curb cuts.
• Comprehensive exterior lighting throughout the lot for safe evening navigation and nighttime departures.
• Campus safety oversight supported by NOVA College Police patrols and strategically located emergency call boxes.
• Digital parking management with permit integration and mobile hourly payment options (such as Passport Parking or official campus payment systems).
• Direct, lit pedestrian crosswalks connecting drivers smoothly into campus buildings and lecture halls.

Ideal For

• NOVA Alexandria students commuting to daytime and evening lectures, labs, and study groups.
• Patrons and attendees of musical, theatrical, and community events at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall.
• Visiting academic guests, guest speakers, and prospective students taking campus tours.
• Faculty and administrative staff seeking convenient grade-level parking on the west side of campus.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Parking regulations on the NOVA Alexandria Campus are actively enforced during academic hours. Ensure you display a valid semester student/faculty permit or purchase hourly or daily visitor parking via the designated mobile app or campus pay station immediately upon arrival. During the initial two weeks of the fall and spring semesters, campus lots experience peak morning demand between 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM; arriving 20 to 30 minutes before class is strongly advised. When attending evening performances at the Schlesinger Concert Hall, follow special event directional signage posted along Dawes Avenue to avoid restricted staff stalls.