Segments - Net Operating Income of Reportable Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental revenues	$ 18,190	$ 15,193
Segment revenues	29,071us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet	19,234us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet
Rental expenses	4,760	3,976
Segment expenses	28,142us-gaap_CostOfRealEstateRevenue	17,985us-gaap_CostOfRealEstateRevenue
Real estate taxes	1,657us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense	1,343us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense
Net operating income	12,702us-gaap_GrossProfit	11,123us-gaap_GrossProfit
Office Real Estate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental revenues	7,703	6,549
Rental expenses	1,754	1,587
Real estate taxes	691	544
Net operating income	5,258	4,418
Retail Real Estate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental revenues	6,625	5,770
Rental expenses	1,399	1,322
Real estate taxes	566	503
Net operating income	4,660	3,945
Multifamily Residential Real Estate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental revenues	3,862	2,874
Rental expenses	1,607	1,067
Real estate taxes	400	296
Net operating income	1,855	1,511
General Contracting and Real Estate Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment revenues	29,071	19,234
Segment expenses	28,142	17,985
Net operating income	$ 929	$ 1,249

This element represents the total of the costs related to real estate revenues, including management, leasing, and development services.

Name:	us-gaap_CostOfRealEstateRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense incurred and directly related to generating revenue from leased and rented property or equipment.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DirectCostsOfLeasedAndRentedPropertyOrEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GrossProfit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of revenue recognized for the period from operating leases, including minimum lease revenue, contingent revenue, percentage revenue and sublease revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7501430&loc=d3e39896-112707

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesIncomeStatementLeaseRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate revenue from real estate operations during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(e))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A tax based on the assessed value of real estate by the local government. The tax is usually based on the value of property (including the land).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 720

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6419918&loc=d3e35301-107843

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RealEstateTaxExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ahh_GeneralContractingAndRealEstateServicesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=ahh_MultiFamilyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_OfficeBuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_RetailSiteMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: