The pile of boulders that marks the entrance to the Stuart Woods apartments in Herndon and the splitrail fence that runs around the property give the complex a rustic look. The brook that runs through the 32-acre complex adds to that feel.

The complex, which was out in a remote area when it opened 30 years ago, is now in the midst of densely populated suburbia and within walking distance of numerous office buildings and three shopping areas, including Reston Town Center.

"When Stuart Woods was first built, it and the Virginia Power [now Dominion Power] building were the only things on Elden Street," said Bryan Circosta, vice president of developer A.J. Dwoskin & Associates. Elden Street was then a two-lane road connecting Reston and Herndon. Now the complex is surrounded by shops and office buildings, and Elden Street is a multilane thoroughfare.

To catch up Stuart Woods with its surroundings, A.J. Dwoskin is renovating the complex. The multimillion-dollar face-lift on the older section of the two-toned threestory stucco buildings began in August, said Wendy DeMayo, the company's director of residential operations. She anticipates completion of the project in late 2002 or early 2003. The exterior renovations complement the interior improvements in both sections of Stuart Woods, I and II, completed last year.

Renovations on 11 buildings in Stuart Woods I include the application of standing seam metal roofs and synthetic stucco siding. Architect George Beglis, who studied at the University of Rome, said he strives to bring a European flavor to the designs by using modern interpretations of classical lines.

"We created parapets on the existing buildings, which were flat and squat," Beglis said. The design adds height, covers rooftop mechanical units with mansard roofs and accentuates the entrances, he said. To distinguish and separate each architectural element, as well as highlight the entrances, Beglis chose subtle and diffused colors, including tan, ocher, light coffee and ivory. Two major color schemes of seven hues each, the most striking of which are forest green or teal roofs alternate between buildings.

Other than the remodeling project, the biggest change to the 450-unit community over the years was its transition from an adult community to a faraily-oriented complex, Circosta said.

"The community was originally designed with three major groups in mind: the singles, the youngmarrieds and the emptynesters," he said. There were a lot of social activities, plus an indoor pool to encourage fraternization. Stuart Woods changed its adults-only policy to comply with changing housing laws and began welcoming children in the 1980s, Circosta said.

There are things that have not changed, though, including the trees and open spaces scattered across the complex. Those searching for more space outdoors find that Runnymede Park-named for Herdon's sister city, Runnymede, England, the site of the field where King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215-is a short walk from the complex.

For sports-oriented outdoor enthusiasts, Stuart Woods has a sand volleyball court and a lighted tennis court next to a wooded picnic area, which has grills and tables. Indoors, there is a fitness center.

For those who prefer to get their exercise by shopping, there are plenty of options within a few minutes walk or drive, including Reston Town Center.

Resident Adriana Jensen and her sister waited for a companion to go shopping one recent weekend afternoon. When asked where they were going, she replied, "I don't know... There are so many places around here."

Manuel Ramoz has lived at Stuart Woods for four years. While he said he enjoys being close to work and being able to walk to a nearby Giant supermarket, he will be happy when the noisy construction is over. "It starts very early in the morning," he said.

Residents Don and Pam LaFontaine said they think the renovations look great even though their building is not scheduled to be renovated until after they move in to a house they are building in Ashburn. After signing a sixmonth lease, they are now renting month to month.

"We found [Stuart Woods] to be a good deal," Don LaFontaine said. When the couple started looking for an apartment early this year, they had a hard time finding anything. Stuart Woods had an opening, and it was less expensive than the place they had been renting.

Other benefits the LaFontaines list are the diversity of the residents and the range of area restaurants.

"Every cuisine you could want is within walking distance," Pam LaFontaine said. "We walk all over here-to the town houses [Stuart Pointe], to the Kmart, to the park-Runnymeade-just up that way," she said gesturing to the wooded area beyond the last building on her street.

Fellow tenant Ron Killian, a long-time Herndon resident, needed a place for his rambunctious chow, Harley, after he sold his downtown Herndon house last year. Stuart Woods admits even large dogs.

"I walk Harley to Runnymeade-there's a wide gravel path," Killian said.

He said another plus of the complex is the size of the units. "I bet my co-worker I could fit a car in my walk-in closet," said Killian, who won the bet after showing the co-worker the floor plan for his unit.

"I could fit two-and-a-half cars in my master bedroom," he said, adding that doorways would present a logistical challenge to doing so.

Killian, who said his job is about eight minutes away by car, also appreciates the location. "I like this area of Hemdon-not as many problems or traffic," he said of Stuart Woods' position on the far eastern edge of the town.

Lynn Taylor, who used to live in California, picked Stuart Woods from a distance and is satisfied with her choice. Even though it is older than some of the other buildings she considered, she said that "this apartment complex is good for the money and size."