diff --git a/doc/cascadia/Unittesting-CppWinRT-Xaml.md b/doc/cascadia/Unittesting-CppWinRT-Xaml.md
index 3cfb228d5..05e66994c 100644
--- a/doc/cascadia/Unittesting-CppWinRT-Xaml.md
+++ b/doc/cascadia/Unittesting-CppWinRT-Xaml.md
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ project from our `TerminalAppLib` project:
     duplicate type definitions)-->
 
     <Reference Include="Microsoft.Terminal.Settings">
-      <HintPath>$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\TerminalSettings\Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.winmd</HintPath>
+      <HintPath>$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\TerminalSettings\Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.winmd</HintPath>
       <IsWinMDFile>true</IsWinMDFile>
       <Private>false</Private>
       <CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>false</CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ dir to your `AdditionalLibraryDirectories`, and adding the lib to your
   <ItemDefinitionGroup>
     <Link>
       <!-- Manually link with the TerminalAppLib.lib we've built. -->
-      <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>$(SolutionDir)\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\TerminalAppLib;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
+      <AdditionalLibraryDirectories>$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\TerminalAppLib;%(AdditionalLibraryDirectories)</AdditionalLibraryDirectories>
 
       <AdditionalDependencies>TerminalAppLib.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
     </Link>
@@ -260,9 +260,9 @@ this:
         echo OutDir=$(OutDir)
         (xcopy /Y &quot;$(SolutionDir)src\cascadia\ut_app\TerminalApp.Unit.Tests.manifest&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalApp.Unit.Tests.manifest*&quot; )
 
-        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\TerminalConnection\TerminalConnection.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalConnection.dll*&quot; )
-        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\TerminalSettings\TerminalSettings.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalSettings.dll*&quot; )
-        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\TerminalControl\TerminalControl.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalControl.dll*&quot; )
+        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\TerminalConnection\TerminalConnection.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalConnection.dll*&quot; )
+        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\TerminalSettings\TerminalSettings.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalSettings.dll*&quot; )
+        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\TerminalControl\TerminalControl.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalControl.dll*&quot; )
       </Command>
     </PostBuildEvent>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
@@ -446,9 +446,9 @@ before. The complete `PostBuildEvent` now looks like this:
 
         (xcopy /Y &quot;$(SolutionDir)src\cascadia\ut_app\TerminalApp.Unit.Tests.AppxManifest.xml&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalApp.Unit.Tests.AppxManifest.xml*&quot; )
 
-        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\TerminalConnection\TerminalConnection.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalConnection.dll*&quot; )
-        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\TerminalSettings\TerminalSettings.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalSettings.dll*&quot; )
-        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(SolutionDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\TerminalControl\TerminalControl.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalControl.dll*&quot; )
+        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\TerminalConnection\TerminalConnection.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalConnection.dll*&quot; )
+        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\TerminalSettings\TerminalSettings.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalSettings.dll*&quot; )
+        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\TerminalControl\TerminalControl.dll&quot; &quot;$(OutDir)\TerminalControl.dll*&quot; )
       </Command>
     </PostBuildEvent>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
diff --git a/doc/creating_a_new_project.md b/doc/creating_a_new_project.md
index 2a938bb1a..0f7f3bd88 100644
--- a/doc/creating_a_new_project.md
+++ b/doc/creating_a_new_project.md
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ When creating a new DLL, it was really helpful to reference an existing DLL's `.
 - [ ] Add a `<Reference>` to `TerminalAppLib.vcxproj` similar to this:
 ```
     <Reference Include="Microsoft.Terminal.NewDLL">
-      <HintPath>$(_BinRoot)TerminalNewDLL\Microsoft.Terminal.NewDLL.winmd</HintPath>
+      <HintPath>$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\TerminalNewDLL\Microsoft.Terminal.NewDLL.winmd</HintPath>
       <IsWinMDFile>true</IsWinMDFile>
       <Private>false</Private>
       <CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>false</CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>
diff --git a/src/cascadia/CascadiaPackage/CascadiaPackage.wapproj b/src/cascadia/CascadiaPackage/CascadiaPackage.wapproj
index 237963a64..fbb1764b5 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/CascadiaPackage/CascadiaPackage.wapproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/CascadiaPackage/CascadiaPackage.wapproj
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
   <Import Project="..\..\..\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
   <Import Project="$(OpenConsoleDir)src\wap-common.build.pre.props" />
   <PropertyGroup Label="Configuration">
+    <!-- This is necessary so the build system doesn't think we're a .NET project... -->
+    <TargetRuntime>Native</TargetRuntime>
     <TargetPlatformVersion>10.0.18362.0</TargetPlatformVersion>
     <TargetPlatformMinVersion>10.0.18362.0</TargetPlatformMinVersion>
     <!--
diff --git a/src/cascadia/LocalTests_SettingsModel/SettingsModel.LocalTests.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/LocalTests_SettingsModel/SettingsModel.LocalTests.vcxproj
index 44615a317..d97c3ab27 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/LocalTests_SettingsModel/SettingsModel.LocalTests.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/LocalTests_SettingsModel/SettingsModel.LocalTests.vcxproj
@@ -20,19 +20,7 @@
     <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
     <WindowsTargetPlatformMinVersion>10.0.18362.0</WindowsTargetPlatformMinVersion>
     <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>10.0.18362.0</WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>
-    <!-- We'll manage our own OutDir/IntDir -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-
-  <PropertyGroup>
-  <!-- Manually change our outdir to be in a subdirectory. We don't really want
-    to put our output in the bin root, because if we do, we'll copy
-    TerminalApp.winmd to the bin root, and then every subsequent mdmerge step
-    (in _any_ cppwinrt project) will automatically try to pick up
-    TerminalApp.winmd as a dependency (which is just wrong). This MUST be done
-    before importing common.build.pre.props -->
-    <OutDir>$(SolutionDir)bin\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)\</OutDir>
-    <IntDir>$(SolutionDir)obj\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)\</IntDir>
+    <OpenConsoleCppWinRTProject>true</OpenConsoleCppWinRTProject>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <Import Project="$(SolutionDir)\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
@@ -99,7 +87,6 @@
   <Import Project="$(OpenConsoleDir)src\common.build.tests.props" />
 
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <_CppWinrtBinRoot>&quot;$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\&quot;</_CppWinrtBinRoot>
     <!-- From Microsoft.UI.Xaml.targets -->
     <Native-Platform Condition="'$(Platform)' == 'Win32'">x86</Native-Platform>
     <Native-Platform Condition="'$(Platform)' != 'Win32'">$(Platform)</Native-Platform>
diff --git a/src/cascadia/LocalTests_TerminalApp/TerminalApp.LocalTests.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/LocalTests_TerminalApp/TerminalApp.LocalTests.vcxproj
index e0fc2b56f..4a9bd629b 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/LocalTests_TerminalApp/TerminalApp.LocalTests.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/LocalTests_TerminalApp/TerminalApp.LocalTests.vcxproj
@@ -20,19 +20,7 @@
     <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
     <WindowsTargetPlatformMinVersion>10.0.18362.0</WindowsTargetPlatformMinVersion>
     <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>10.0.18362.0</WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>
-    <!-- We'll manage our own OutDir/IntDir -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-
-  <PropertyGroup>
-  <!-- Manually change our outdir to be in a subdirectory. We don't really want
-    to put our output in the bin root, because if we do, we'll copy
-    TerminalApp.winmd to the bin root, and then every subsequent mdmerge step
-    (in _any_ cppwinrt project) will automatically try to pick up
-    TerminalApp.winmd as a dependency (which is just wrong). This MUST be done
-    before importing common.build.pre.props -->
-    <OutDir>$(SolutionDir)bin\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)\</OutDir>
-    <IntDir>$(SolutionDir)obj\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)\</IntDir>
+    <OpenConsoleCppWinRTProject>true</OpenConsoleCppWinRTProject>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <Import Project="$(SolutionDir)\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
@@ -101,7 +89,6 @@
   <Import Project="$(OpenConsoleDir)src\common.build.tests.props" />
 
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <_CppWinrtBinRoot>&quot;$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\&quot;</_CppWinrtBinRoot>
     <!-- From Microsoft.UI.Xaml.targets -->
     <Native-Platform Condition="'$(Platform)' == 'Win32'">x86</Native-Platform>
     <Native-Platform Condition="'$(Platform)' != 'Win32'">$(Platform)</Native-Platform>
diff --git a/src/cascadia/LocalTests_TerminalApp/TestHostApp/TestHostApp.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/LocalTests_TerminalApp/TestHostApp/TestHostApp.vcxproj
index 289afc5dc..439adea4b 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/LocalTests_TerminalApp/TestHostApp/TestHostApp.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/LocalTests_TerminalApp/TestHostApp/TestHostApp.vcxproj
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 <Project ToolsVersion="15.0" DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
   <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
     <ProjectGuid>{A021EDFF-45C8-4DC2-BEF7-36E1B3B8CFE8}</ProjectGuid>
+    <ProjectName>TestHostApp</ProjectName>
     <RootNamespace>TestHostApp</RootNamespace>
     <DefaultLanguage>en-US</DefaultLanguage>
     <MinimumVisualStudioVersion>14.0</MinimumVisualStudioVersion>
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@
     <OutputSubDir>Tests\Data</OutputSubDir>
     <UseWmXml>true</UseWmXml>
     <ConfigurationType>Application</ConfigurationType>
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
+    <OpenConsoleCppWinRTProject>true</OpenConsoleCppWinRTProject>
 
     <!--
     These two properties are very important!
@@ -108,9 +109,6 @@
 
   <PropertyGroup>
     <!-- Some helper paths to find our test code -->
-    <_TestBinRoot>$(OpenConsoleDir)\bin\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)</_TestBinRoot>
-    <_CppWinrtBinRoot>$(OpenConsoleDir)\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)</_CppWinrtBinRoot>
-    <_CppWinrtBinRoot Condition="'$(Platform)'=='Win32'">$(OpenConsoleDir)\$(Configuration)</_CppWinrtBinRoot>
     <_TAEFPlatformName>$(Platform)</_TAEFPlatformName>
     <_TAEFPlatformName Condition="'$(Platform)'=='Win32'">x86</_TAEFPlatformName>
   </PropertyGroup>
@@ -145,7 +143,7 @@
       rules instead.
     -->
     <ItemGroup>
-        <TerminalConnectionDlls Include="$(_CppWinrtBinRoot)\TerminalConnection\*.dll"/>
+        <TerminalConnectionDlls Include="$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\TerminalConnection\*.dll"/>
     </ItemGroup>
 
     <!-- Copy the AppxManifest.xml to another file, because when TAEF is
@@ -154,11 +152,11 @@
     <Copy SourceFiles="$(TargetDir)\AppxManifest.xml" DestinationFiles="$(TargetDir)\TestHostAppXManifest.xml" />
 
     <!-- Copy our test code from LocalTests_TerminalApp into this directory -->
-    <Copy SourceFiles="$(_TestBinRoot)\LocalTests_TerminalApp\TerminalApp.LocalTests.dll"
+    <Copy SourceFiles="$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\LocalTests_TerminalApp\TerminalApp.LocalTests.dll"
           DestinationFiles="$(TargetDir)\TerminalApp.LocalTests.dll" />
 
     <!-- Copy our test code from LocalTests_TerminalApp into this directory -->
-    <Copy SourceFiles="$(_TestBinRoot)\LocalTests_SettingsModel\SettingsModel.LocalTests.dll"
+    <Copy SourceFiles="$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)\LocalTests_SettingsModel\SettingsModel.LocalTests.dll"
           DestinationFiles="$(TargetDir)\SettingsModel.LocalTests.dll" />
 
     <!-- Copy some dlls which TerminalConnection is dependent upon that didn't
diff --git a/src/cascadia/ShellExtension/WindowsTerminalShellExt.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/ShellExtension/WindowsTerminalShellExt.vcxproj
index 125651769..681bcad5c 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/ShellExtension/WindowsTerminalShellExt.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/ShellExtension/WindowsTerminalShellExt.vcxproj
@@ -10,12 +10,6 @@
     <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
     <!-- sets a bunch of Windows Universal properties -->
     <OpenConsoleUniversalApp>true</OpenConsoleUniversalApp>
-    <!--
-      DON'T REDIRECT OUR OUTPUT.
-      Setting this will tell cppwinrt.build.post.props to copy our output from
-      the default OutDir up one level, so the wapproj will be able to find it.
-     -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <Import Project="..\..\..\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalAppLib.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalAppLib.vcxproj
index 706be36e3..ca38ca66b 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalAppLib.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/TerminalAppLib.vcxproj
@@ -10,12 +10,6 @@
     <ConfigurationType>StaticLibrary</ConfigurationType>
     <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
     <OpenConsoleUniversalApp>true</OpenConsoleUniversalApp>
-    <!--
-      DON'T REDIRECT OUR OUTPUT.
-      Setting this will tell cppwinrt.build.post.props to copy our output from
-      the default OutDir up one level, so the wapproj will be able to find it.
-     -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
     <!--
       This is an override that, puzzlingly, _forces XBF (XAML binary) embedding_.
       We have to do this to overcome a layout issue in the WAP packaging project.
@@ -251,11 +245,6 @@
     TerminalSettings projects' winmds via project references. So we'll have to
     manually include the winmds as References below -->
   </ItemGroup>
-  <PropertyGroup>
-    <!-- A small helper for paths to the compiled cppwinrt projects -->
-    <_BinRoot Condition="'$(Platform)' != 'Win32'">$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\</_BinRoot>
-    <_BinRoot Condition="'$(Platform)' == 'Win32'">$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Configuration)\</_BinRoot>
-  </PropertyGroup>
   <PropertyGroup>
     <!-- This is a hack to get the ARM64 CI build working. See
     https://github.com/Microsoft/msbuild/issues/3746 - it looks like MsBuild
@@ -268,19 +257,19 @@
     propagate them upwards (which can make referencing this project result in
     duplicate type definitions)-->
     <Reference Include="Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalConnection">
-      <HintPath>$(_BinRoot)TerminalConnection\Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalConnection.winmd</HintPath>
+      <HintPath>$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)TerminalConnection\Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalConnection.winmd</HintPath>
       <IsWinMDFile>true</IsWinMDFile>
       <Private>false</Private>
       <CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>false</CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>
     </Reference>
     <Reference Include="Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalControl">
-      <HintPath>$(_BinRoot)TerminalControl\Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalControl.winmd</HintPath>
+      <HintPath>$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)TerminalControl\Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalControl.winmd</HintPath>
       <IsWinMDFile>true</IsWinMDFile>
       <Private>false</Private>
       <CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>false</CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>
     </Reference>
     <Reference Include="Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.Model">
-      <HintPath>$(_BinRoot)Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.Model\Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.Model.winmd</HintPath>
+      <HintPath>$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.Model\Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.Model.winmd</HintPath>
       <IsWinMDFile>true</IsWinMDFile>
       <Private>false</Private>
       <CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>false</CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/dll/TerminalApp.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/dll/TerminalApp.vcxproj
index 4fe164c4e..003a977aa 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/dll/TerminalApp.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalApp/dll/TerminalApp.vcxproj
@@ -10,12 +10,6 @@
     <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
     <!-- sets a bunch of Windows Universal properties -->
     <OpenConsoleUniversalApp>true</OpenConsoleUniversalApp>
-    <!--
-      DON'T REDIRECT OUR OUTPUT.
-      Setting this will tell cppwinrt.build.post.props to copy our output from
-      the default OutDir up one level, so the wapproj will be able to find it.
-     -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <Import Project="..\..\..\..\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
   <Import Project="$(OpenConsoleDir)src\cppwinrt.build.pre.props" />
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalAzBridge/TerminalAzBridge.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/TerminalAzBridge/TerminalAzBridge.vcxproj
index 482f6a6ca..3e2ee8b36 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalAzBridge/TerminalAzBridge.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalAzBridge/TerminalAzBridge.vcxproj
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
     <ConfigurationType>Application</ConfigurationType>
     <OpenConsoleUniversalApp>false</OpenConsoleUniversalApp>
     <ApplicationType>Windows Store</ApplicationType>
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
     <TargetPlatformIdentifier>Windows</TargetPlatformIdentifier>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalConnection/TerminalConnection.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/TerminalConnection/TerminalConnection.vcxproj
index 3cc6689e1..585d0e8fa 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalConnection/TerminalConnection.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalConnection/TerminalConnection.vcxproj
@@ -7,12 +7,6 @@
     <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
     <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
     <OpenConsoleUniversalApp>true</OpenConsoleUniversalApp>
-    <!--
-      DON'T REDIRECT OUR OUTPUT.
-      Setting this will tell cppwinrt.build.post.props to copy our output from
-      the default OutDir up one level, so the wapproj will be able to find it.
-     -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <Import Project="..\..\..\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
   <Import Project="$(OpenConsoleDir)src\cppwinrt.build.pre.props" />
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalControl/TerminalControl.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/TerminalControl/TerminalControl.vcxproj
index 14992abab..4d07df1f5 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalControl/TerminalControl.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalControl/TerminalControl.vcxproj
@@ -19,12 +19,6 @@
          projects compile properly when they depend on this "Microsoft.winmd."
     -->
     <CppWinRTNamespaceMergeDepth>3</CppWinRTNamespaceMergeDepth>
-    <!--
-      DON'T REDIRECT OUR OUTPUT.
-      Setting this will tell cppwinrt.build.post.props to copy our output from
-      the default OutDir up one level, so the wapproj will be able to find it.
-     -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
     <XamlComponentResourceLocation>nested</XamlComponentResourceLocation>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <Import Project="..\..\..\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalCore/lib/terminalcore-lib.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/TerminalCore/lib/terminalcore-lib.vcxproj
index 29c99c3ee..44bb357f6 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalCore/lib/terminalcore-lib.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalCore/lib/terminalcore-lib.vcxproj
@@ -11,13 +11,6 @@
 
     <!-- sets a bunch of Windows Universal properties -->
     <OpenConsoleUniversalApp>true</OpenConsoleUniversalApp>
-
-    <!--
-      DON'T REDIRECT OUR OUTPUT.
-      Setting this will tell cppwinrt.build.post.props to copy our output from
-      the default OutDir up one level, so the wapproj will be able to find it.
-     -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <!-- Imported WinRT generated files must go up here to get excluded from Audit correctly. -->
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalSettingsModel/Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.ModelLib.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/TerminalSettingsModel/Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.ModelLib.vcxproj
index 5e367a602..243971026 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalSettingsModel/Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.ModelLib.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalSettingsModel/Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.ModelLib.vcxproj
@@ -10,12 +10,6 @@
     <ConfigurationType>StaticLibrary</ConfigurationType>
     <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
     <OpenConsoleUniversalApp>true</OpenConsoleUniversalApp>
-    <!--
-      DON'T REDIRECT OUR OUTPUT.
-      Setting this will tell cppwinrt.build.post.props to copy our output from
-      the default OutDir up one level, so the wapproj will be able to find it.
-     -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <Import Project="..\..\..\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
   <Import Project="$(OpenConsoleDir)src\cppwinrt.build.pre.props" />
@@ -147,24 +141,19 @@
     TerminalSettings projects' winmds via project references. So we'll have to
     manually include the winmds as References below -->
   </ItemGroup>
-  <PropertyGroup>
-    <!-- A small helper for paths to the compiled cppwinrt projects -->
-    <_BinRoot Condition="'$(Platform)' != 'Win32'">$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\</_BinRoot>
-    <_BinRoot Condition="'$(Platform)' == 'Win32'">$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Configuration)\</_BinRoot>
-  </PropertyGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <!-- Manually add references to each of our dependent winmds. Mark them as
     private=false and CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies=false, so that we don't
     propagate them upwards (which can make referencing this project result in
     duplicate type definitions)-->
     <Reference Include="Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalConnection">
-      <HintPath>$(_BinRoot)TerminalConnection\Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalConnection.winmd</HintPath>
+      <HintPath>$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)TerminalConnection\Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalConnection.winmd</HintPath>
       <IsWinMDFile>true</IsWinMDFile>
       <Private>false</Private>
       <CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>false</CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>
     </Reference>
     <Reference Include="Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalControl">
-      <HintPath>$(_BinRoot)TerminalControl\Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalControl.winmd</HintPath>
+      <HintPath>$(OpenConsoleCommonOutDir)TerminalControl\Microsoft.Terminal.TerminalControl.winmd</HintPath>
       <IsWinMDFile>true</IsWinMDFile>
       <Private>false</Private>
       <CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>false</CopyLocalSatelliteAssemblies>
diff --git a/src/cascadia/TerminalSettingsModel/dll/Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.Model.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/TerminalSettingsModel/dll/Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.Model.vcxproj
index 8e57af532..d0e28513c 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/TerminalSettingsModel/dll/Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.Model.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/TerminalSettingsModel/dll/Microsoft.Terminal.Settings.Model.vcxproj
@@ -10,12 +10,6 @@
     <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
     <!-- sets a bunch of Windows Universal properties -->
     <OpenConsoleUniversalApp>true</OpenConsoleUniversalApp>
-    <!--
-      DON'T REDIRECT OUR OUTPUT.
-      Setting this will tell cppwinrt.build.post.props to copy our output from
-      the default OutDir up one level, so the wapproj will be able to find it.
-     -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <Import Project="..\..\..\..\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
   <Import Project="$(OpenConsoleDir)src\cppwinrt.build.pre.props" />
diff --git a/src/cascadia/WinRTUtils/WinRTUtils.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/WinRTUtils/WinRTUtils.vcxproj
index 5936d7f78..1e15fb4d3 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/WinRTUtils/WinRTUtils.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/WinRTUtils/WinRTUtils.vcxproj
@@ -9,12 +9,6 @@
     <ConfigurationType>StaticLibrary</ConfigurationType>
     <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
     <OpenConsoleUniversalApp>true</OpenConsoleUniversalApp>
-    <!--
-      DON'T REDIRECT OUR OUTPUT.
-      Setting this will tell cppwinrt.build.post.props to copy our output from
-      the default OutDir up one level, so the wapproj will be able to find it.
-     -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <Import Project="..\..\..\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
   <Import Project="$(OpenConsoleDir)src\cppwinrt.build.pre.props" />
diff --git a/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminal/WindowsTerminal.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminal/WindowsTerminal.vcxproj
index d8adf0098..65f4c498f 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminal/WindowsTerminal.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminal/WindowsTerminal.vcxproj
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
     <!-- IMPORTANT! Xaml Islands only works on >= 17709 -->
     <!-- IMPORTANT! cppwinrt.pre.props specifies 17134 -->
     <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>10.0.18362.0</WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>
-    <!-- DON'T REDIRECT OUR OUTPUT -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
     <TargetPlatformIdentifier>Windows</TargetPlatformIdentifier>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
diff --git a/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminalUniversal/PropertySheet.props b/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminalUniversal/PropertySheet.props
deleted file mode 100644
index 5942ba395..000000000
--- a/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminalUniversal/PropertySheet.props
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
-  <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets" />
-  <PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros" />
-  <!--
-    To customize common C++/WinRT project properties: 
-    * right-click the project node
-    * expand the Common Properties item
-    * select the C++/WinRT property page
-
-    For more advanced scenarios, and complete documentation, please see:
-    https://github.com/Microsoft/xlang/tree/master/src/package/cppwinrt/nuget 
-    -->
-  <PropertyGroup />
-  <ItemDefinitionGroup />
-</Project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminalUniversal/WindowsTerminalUniversal.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminalUniversal/WindowsTerminalUniversal.vcxproj
index bc2508c03..b5a7b1793 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminalUniversal/WindowsTerminalUniversal.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminalUniversal/WindowsTerminalUniversal.vcxproj
@@ -2,107 +2,26 @@
 <Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="15.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
   <Import Project="..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.6.0.0\build\native\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.props" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.6.0.0\build\native\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.props')" />
   <Import Project="..\..\..\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
-  <Import Project="..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" />
+
   <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
-    <CppWinRTOptimized>true</CppWinRTOptimized>
     <CppWinRTRootNamespaceAutoMerge>true</CppWinRTRootNamespaceAutoMerge>
-    <MinimalCoreWin>true</MinimalCoreWin>
     <ProjectGuid>{b0ac39d6-7b40-49a9-8202-58549bae1fb1}</ProjectGuid>
     <ProjectName>WindowsTerminalUniversal</ProjectName>
     <RootNamespace>WindowsTerminalUniversal</RootNamespace>
-    <DefaultLanguage>en-US</DefaultLanguage>
-    <MinimumVisualStudioVersion>15.0</MinimumVisualStudioVersion>
-    <AppContainerApplication>true</AppContainerApplication>
-    <WindowsStoreApp>true</WindowsStoreApp>
-    <ApplicationType>Windows Store</ApplicationType>
-    <ApplicationTypeRevision>10.0</ApplicationTypeRevision>
-    <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion Condition=" '$(WindowsTargetPlatformVersion)' == '' ">10.0.18362.0</WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>
-    <WindowsTargetPlatformMinVersion>10.0.18362.0</WindowsTargetPlatformMinVersion>
+    <OpenConsoleUniversalApp>true</OpenConsoleUniversalApp>
   </PropertyGroup>
-  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props" />
-  <ItemGroup Label="ProjectConfigurations">
-    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Debug|ARM64">
-      <Configuration>Debug</Configuration>
-      <Platform>ARM64</Platform>
-    </ProjectConfiguration>
-    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Debug|Win32">
-      <Configuration>Debug</Configuration>
-      <Platform>Win32</Platform>
-    </ProjectConfiguration>
-    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Debug|x64">
-      <Configuration>Debug</Configuration>
-      <Platform>x64</Platform>
-    </ProjectConfiguration>
-    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Release|ARM64">
-      <Configuration>Release</Configuration>
-      <Platform>ARM64</Platform>
-    </ProjectConfiguration>
-    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Release|Win32">
-      <Configuration>Release</Configuration>
-      <Platform>Win32</Platform>
-    </ProjectConfiguration>
-    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Release|x64">
-      <Configuration>Release</Configuration>
-      <Platform>x64</Platform>
-    </ProjectConfiguration>
-  </ItemGroup>
-  <PropertyGroup Label="Configuration">
-    <ConfigurationType>Application</ConfigurationType>
-    <PlatformToolset>v140</PlatformToolset>
-    <PlatformToolset Condition="'$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '15.0'">v141</PlatformToolset>
-    <PlatformToolset Condition="'$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '16.0'">v142</PlatformToolset>
-    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'" Label="Configuration">
-    <UseDebugLibraries>true</UseDebugLibraries>
-    <LinkIncremental>true</LinkIncremental>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'" Label="Configuration">
-    <UseDebugLibraries>false</UseDebugLibraries>
-    <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
-    <LinkIncremental>false</LinkIncremental>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
-  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">
-  </ImportGroup>
-  <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets">
-    <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
-  </ImportGroup>
-  <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets">
-    <Import Project="PropertySheet.props" />
-  </ImportGroup>
-  <PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros" />
+
+  <Import Project="..\..\cppwinrt.build.pre.props" />
+
   <ItemDefinitionGroup>
     <ClCompile>
-      <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
-      <PrecompiledHeaderFile>pch.h</PrecompiledHeaderFile>
-      <PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile>$(IntDir)pch.pch</PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile>
-      <WarningLevel>Level4</WarningLevel>
-      <AdditionalOptions>%(AdditionalOptions) /bigobj</AdditionalOptions>
-      <DisableSpecificWarnings>4453;28204</DisableSpecificWarnings>
+      <DisableSpecificWarnings>4453;28204;%(DisableSpecificWarnings)</DisableSpecificWarnings>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <GenerateWindowsMetadata>false</GenerateWindowsMetadata>
     </Link>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
-  <ItemDefinitionGroup>
-    <ClCompile>
-      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(OpenConsoleDir)\src\inc;$(OpenConsoleDir)\dep;$(OpenConsoleDir)\dep\Console;$(OpenConsoleDir)\dep\Win32K;$(OpenConsoleDir)\dep\gsl\include;$(OpenConsoleDir)\dep\wil\include;$(SolutionDir)\oss\chromium;$(SolutionDir)\oss\fmt\include;$(SolutionDir)\oss\dynamic_bitset;$(SolutionDir)\oss\libpopcnt;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories);</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-    </ClCompile>
-    <Link>
-      <AdditionalDependencies>gdi32.lib;dwmapi.lib;Shcore.lib;%(AdditionalDependencies)</AdditionalDependencies>
-    </Link>
-  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
-  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'">
-    <ClCompile>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_DEBUG;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
-    </ClCompile>
-  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
-  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'">
-    <ClCompile>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>NDEBUG;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
-    </ClCompile>
-  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+
   <ItemGroup>
     <ClInclude Include="pch.h" />
   </ItemGroup>
@@ -140,7 +59,6 @@
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <None Include="packages.config" />
-    <None Include="PropertySheet.props" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <ProjectReference Include="$(OpenConsoleDir)src\cascadia\TerminalControl\TerminalControl.vcxproj" />
@@ -153,10 +71,9 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <Image Include="internal-background.png" />
   </ItemGroup>
-  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.targets" />
+
   <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionTargets">
     <Import Project="..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.5.0-prerelease.200609001\build\native\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.5.0-prerelease.200609001\build\native\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.targets')" />
-    <Import Project="..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" />
     <Import Project="..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.6.0.0\build\native\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.6.0.0\build\native\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.targets')" />
   </ImportGroup>
   <Target Name="EnsureNuGetPackageBuildImports" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild">
@@ -164,11 +81,10 @@
       <ErrorText>This project references NuGet package(s) that are missing on this computer. Use NuGet Package Restore to download them.  For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=322105. The missing file is {0}.</ErrorText>
     </PropertyGroup>
     <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.5.0-prerelease.200609001\build\native\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.5.0-prerelease.200609001\build\native\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.targets'))" />
-    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props'))" />
-    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets'))" />
     <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.6.0.0\build\native\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.props')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.6.0.0\build\native\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.props'))" />
     <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.6.0.0\build\native\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.6.0.0\build\native\Microsoft.Toolkit.Win32.UI.XamlApplication.targets'))" />
   </Target>
 
   <Import Project="$(SolutionDir)build\rules\CollectWildcardResources.targets" />
+  <Import Project="..\..\cppwinrt.build.post.props" />
 </Project>
diff --git a/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminalUniversal/pch.h b/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminalUniversal/pch.h
index ca54b5f18..e0309d5b3 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminalUniversal/pch.h
+++ b/src/cascadia/WindowsTerminalUniversal/pch.h
@@ -3,6 +3,15 @@
 #define NOMINMAX
 
 #include <windows.h>
+
+// This is inexplicable, but for whatever reason, cppwinrt conflicts with the
+//      SDK definition of this function, so the only fix is to undef it.
+// from WinBase.h
+// Windows::UI::Xaml::Media::Animation::IStoryboard::GetCurrentTime
+#ifdef GetCurrentTime
+#undef GetCurrentTime
+#endif
+
 #include <winrt/Windows.Foundation.h>
 #include <winrt/Windows.Foundation.Collections.h>
 #include <winrt/Windows.ApplicationModel.Core.h>
diff --git a/src/cascadia/ut_app/TerminalApp.UnitTests.vcxproj b/src/cascadia/ut_app/TerminalApp.UnitTests.vcxproj
index fd16efd8c..963fa45d4 100644
--- a/src/cascadia/ut_app/TerminalApp.UnitTests.vcxproj
+++ b/src/cascadia/ut_app/TerminalApp.UnitTests.vcxproj
@@ -9,19 +9,7 @@
     <ConfigurationType>DynamicLibrary</ConfigurationType>
     <WindowsTargetPlatformMinVersion>10.0.18362.0</WindowsTargetPlatformMinVersion>
     <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>10.0.18362.0</WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>
-    <!-- We'll manage our own OutDir/IntDir -->
-    <NoOutputRedirection>true</NoOutputRedirection>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-
-  <PropertyGroup>
-  <!-- Manually change our outdir to be in a subdirectory. We don't really want
-    to put our output in the bin root, because if we do, we'll copy
-    TerminalApp.winmd to the bin root, and then every subsequent mdmerge step
-    (in _any_ cppwinrt project) will automatically try to pick up
-    TerminalApp.winmd as a dependency (which is just wrong). This MUST be done
-    before importing common.build.pre.props -->
-    <OutDir>$(SolutionDir)bin\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)\</OutDir>
-    <IntDir>$(SolutionDir)obj\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)\</IntDir>
+    <OpenConsoleCppWinRTProject>true</OpenConsoleCppWinRTProject>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <Import Project="$(SolutionDir)\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
@@ -95,7 +83,6 @@
   <Import Project="$(OpenConsoleDir)src\common.build.tests.props" />
 
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <_CppWinrtBinRoot>&quot;$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\&quot;</_CppWinrtBinRoot>
     <!-- From Microsoft.UI.Xaml.targets -->
     <Native-Platform Condition="'$(Platform)' == 'Win32'">x86</Native-Platform>
     <Native-Platform Condition="'$(Platform)' != 'Win32'">$(Platform)</Native-Platform>
diff --git a/src/common.build.pre.props b/src/common.build.pre.props
index fc2096137..20587e1f7 100644
--- a/src/common.build.pre.props
+++ b/src/common.build.pre.props
@@ -1,16 +1,23 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="14.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
   <!-- By default, binplace our output under the bin/ directory in the root of
-       the project. The other non-cppwinrt projects are binplaced there as well.
-       However, Cascadia projects want to be built into an appx, and the wapproj
-       that consumes them will complain if you do this. So they'll set
-       NoOutputRedirection before including this props file.
-  -->
-  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(NoOutputRedirection)'!='true'">
-    <OutputPath>$(SolutionDir)bin\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\</OutputPath>
+       the project. -->
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <!-- We're controlling the output paths manually; do not let the rest of VS override them. -->
+    <GenerateProjectSpecificOutputFolder>false</GenerateProjectSpecificOutputFolder>
+
     <OutDir>$(SolutionDir)bin\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\</OutDir>
+    <!-- C++/WinRT projects get their own project-specific output directories. -->
+    <OutDir Condition="'$(OpenConsoleCppWinRTProject)'=='true'">$(SolutionDir)bin\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)\</OutDir>
+    <OutputPath>$(OutDir)</OutputPath>
+
     <IntDir>$(SolutionDir)obj\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)\</IntDir>
+    <IntermediateOutputPath>$(IntDir)</IntermediateOutputPath>
+
+    <!-- Both pairs of OutDir/OutputPath and IntDir/IntermediateOutputPath must be set;
+         different parts of the project infrastructure use them (without rhyme or reason.) -->
   </PropertyGroup>
+
   <PropertyGroup>
     <!-- This one is always set so that non-redirected projects can depend on it. -->
     <OpenConsoleCommonOutDir>$(SolutionDir)bin\$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\</OpenConsoleCommonOutDir>
diff --git a/src/cppwinrt.build.post.props b/src/cppwinrt.build.post.props
index 11ba99957..733ff13ab 100644
--- a/src/cppwinrt.build.post.props
+++ b/src/cppwinrt.build.post.props
@@ -2,55 +2,6 @@
 <Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="14.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
   <Import Project="$(MSBuildThisFileDirectory)common.build.post.props" />
 
-  <!-- For Cascadia projects, we want to copy the output dll up a directory
-       from where it was binplaced.
-       e.g. TerminalApp.vcxproj builds OpenConsole/x64/Debug/TerminalApp/TerminalApp.dll
-       this should be copied to OpenConsole/x64/Debug/TerminalApp.dll
-       Otherwise, the wapproj won't be able to find it properly.
-       Additionally, the wapproj expects the x86 version to not include the
-       platform in the path, go figure.
-       A project can request to not do this step by setting DontCopyOutput to true.
-  -->
-  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(NoOutputRedirection)'=='true' And '$(ConfigurationType)'=='DynamicLibrary' And '$(DontCopyOutput)'!='true'">
-    <PostBuildEvent Condition="'$(Platform)'!='Win32'">
-      <Command>
-        echo OutDir=$(OutDir)
-        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(OutDir)$(ProjectName).dll&quot; &quot;$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName).dll*&quot; )
-        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(OutDir)$(ProjectName)FullPDB.pdb&quot; &quot;$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)FullPDB.pdb*&quot; )
-      </Command>
-    </PostBuildEvent>
-    <PostBuildEvent Condition="'$(Platform)'=='Win32'">
-      <Command>
-        echo OutDir=$(OutDir)
-        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(OutDir)$(ProjectName).dll&quot; &quot;$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName).dll*&quot; )
-        (xcopy /Y &quot;$(OutDir)$(ProjectName)FullPDB.pdb&quot; &quot;$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)FullPDB.pdb*&quot; )
-      </Command>
-    </PostBuildEvent>
-  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
-
-  <!--
-    For whatever reason, GENERATEPROJECTPRIFILE is incapable of creating this
-    directory on its own, it just assumes it exists.
-
-    Also make the directory w/o the platform, because the x86 build in CI will
-    try to place the pri files into
-    C:\BA\3126\s\Release\$(ProjectName)\$(ProjectName).pri (for example)
-  -->
-  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'!='Win32'">
-    <PreBuildEvent>
-      <Command>
-        if not exist &quot;$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)&quot; mkdir &quot;$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Platform)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)&quot;
-      </Command>
-    </PreBuildEvent>
-  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
-  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='Win32'">
-    <PreBuildEvent>
-      <Command>
-        if not exist &quot;$(OpenConsoleDir)$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)&quot; mkdir &quot;$(OpenConsoleDir)\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)&quot;
-      </Command>
-    </PreBuildEvent>
-  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
-
   <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionTargets">
     <Import Project="$(OpenConsoleDir)\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets" Condition="Exists('$(OpenConsoleDir)\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" />
   </ImportGroup>
diff --git a/src/cppwinrt.build.pre.props b/src/cppwinrt.build.pre.props
index 60ad86cf8..695c125d9 100644
--- a/src/cppwinrt.build.pre.props
+++ b/src/cppwinrt.build.pre.props
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="14.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
 
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <!-- this will trigger the use of a project-specific out dir -->
+    <OpenConsoleCppWinRTProject>true</OpenConsoleCppWinRTProject>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
   <Import Project="..\common.openconsole.props" Condition="'$(OpenConsoleDir)'==''" />
 
   <Import Project="$(OpenConsoleDir)\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props" Condition="Exists('$(OpenConsoleDir)\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" />
@@ -52,7 +57,6 @@
   -->
   <PropertyGroup>
     <_NoWinAPIFamilyApp>true</_NoWinAPIFamilyApp>
-    <GenerateProjectSpecificOutputFolder>false</GenerateProjectSpecificOutputFolder>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <PropertyGroup Label="Configuration">
diff --git a/src/tools/U8U16Test/PropertySheet.props b/src/tools/U8U16Test/PropertySheet.props
deleted file mode 100644
index b0c622690..000000000
--- a/src/tools/U8U16Test/PropertySheet.props
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
-  <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets" />
-  <PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros" />
-    <!--
-    To customize common C++/WinRT project properties: 
-    * right-click the project node
-    * expand the Common Properties item
-    * select the C++/WinRT property page
-
-    For more advanced scenarios, and complete documentation, please see:
-    https://github.com/Microsoft/cppwinrt/tree/master/nuget 
-    -->
-  <PropertyGroup />
-  <ItemDefinitionGroup />
-</Project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/tools/U8U16Test/U8U16Test.vcxproj b/src/tools/U8U16Test/U8U16Test.vcxproj
index a80c3f2de..ef51bf93f 100644
--- a/src/tools/U8U16Test/U8U16Test.vcxproj
+++ b/src/tools/U8U16Test/U8U16Test.vcxproj
@@ -1,106 +1,26 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Project DefaultTargets="Build" ToolsVersion="15.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
-  <Import Project="..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" />
   <PropertyGroup Label="Globals">
-    <CppWinRTOptimized>true</CppWinRTOptimized>
-    <CppWinRTRootNamespaceAutoMerge>true</CppWinRTRootNamespaceAutoMerge>
-    <CppWinRTGenerateWindowsMetadata>true</CppWinRTGenerateWindowsMetadata>
     <MinimalCoreWin>true</MinimalCoreWin>
     <VCProjectVersion>15.0</VCProjectVersion>
     <ProjectGuid>{a602a555-baac-46e1-a91d-3dab0475c5a1}</ProjectGuid>
     <Keyword>Win32Proj</Keyword>
     <RootNamespace>U8U16Test</RootNamespace>
-    <WindowsTargetPlatformVersion Condition=" '$(WindowsTargetPlatformVersion)' == '' ">10.0</WindowsTargetPlatformVersion>
-    <WindowsTargetPlatformMinVersion>10.0.17134.0</WindowsTargetPlatformMinVersion>
+    <ProjectName>U8U16Test</ProjectName>
   </PropertyGroup>
-  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.Default.props" />
-  <ItemGroup Label="ProjectConfigurations">
-    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Debug|Win32">
-      <Configuration>Debug</Configuration>
-      <Platform>Win32</Platform>
-    </ProjectConfiguration>
-    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Release|Win32">
-      <Configuration>Release</Configuration>
-      <Platform>Win32</Platform>
-    </ProjectConfiguration>
-    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Debug|x64">
-      <Configuration>Debug</Configuration>
-      <Platform>x64</Platform>
-    </ProjectConfiguration>
-    <ProjectConfiguration Include="Release|x64">
-      <Configuration>Release</Configuration>
-      <Platform>x64</Platform>
-    </ProjectConfiguration>
-  </ItemGroup>
-  <PropertyGroup Label="Configuration">
-    <ConfigurationType>Application</ConfigurationType>
-    <PlatformToolset>v140</PlatformToolset>
-    <PlatformToolset Condition="'$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '15.0'">v141</PlatformToolset>
-    <PlatformToolset Condition="'$(VisualStudioVersion)' == '16.0'">v142</PlatformToolset>
-    <CharacterSet>Unicode</CharacterSet>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'" Label="Configuration">
-    <UseDebugLibraries>true</UseDebugLibraries>
-    <LinkIncremental>true</LinkIncremental>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-  <PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'" Label="Configuration">
-    <UseDebugLibraries>false</UseDebugLibraries>
-    <WholeProgramOptimization>true</WholeProgramOptimization>
-    <LinkIncremental>false</LinkIncremental>
-  </PropertyGroup>
-  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.props" />
-  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionSettings">
-  </ImportGroup>
-  <ImportGroup Label="Shared">
-  </ImportGroup>
-  <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets">
-    <Import Project="$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props" Condition="exists('$(UserRootDir)\Microsoft.Cpp.$(Platform).user.props')" Label="LocalAppDataPlatform" />
-  </ImportGroup>
-  <ImportGroup Label="PropertySheets">
-    <Import Project="PropertySheet.props" />
-  </ImportGroup>
-  <PropertyGroup Label="UserMacros" />
+
+  <Import Project="..\..\common.build.pre.props" />
+
   <ItemDefinitionGroup>
     <ClCompile>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CONSOLE;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
-      <PrecompiledHeaderFile>
-      </PrecompiledHeaderFile>
-      <PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile>
-      </PrecompiledHeaderOutputFile>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CONSOLE;WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN;WINRT_LEAN_AND_MEAN;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
-      <WarningLevel>Level4</WarningLevel>
-      <AdditionalOptions>%(AdditionalOptions) /permissive- /bigobj</AdditionalOptions>
-    </ClCompile>
-  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
-  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Debug'">
-    <ClCompile>
-      <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_DEBUG;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
-      <GenerateWindowsMetadata>false</GenerateWindowsMetadata>
-    </Link>
-  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
-  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Platform)'=='Win32'">
-    <ClCompile>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>WIN32;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
-    </ClCompile>
-  </ItemDefinitionGroup>
-  <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)'=='Release'">
-    <ClCompile>
-      <Optimization>MaxSpeed</Optimization>
-      <FunctionLevelLinking>true</FunctionLevelLinking>
-      <IntrinsicFunctions>true</IntrinsicFunctions>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>NDEBUG;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
-    </ClCompile>
-    <Link>
-      <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
-      <EnableCOMDATFolding>true</EnableCOMDATFolding>
-      <OptimizeReferences>true</OptimizeReferences>
-      <GenerateWindowsMetadata>false</GenerateWindowsMetadata>
     </Link>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
+
   <ItemGroup>
     <ClInclude Include="U8U16Test.hpp" />
   </ItemGroup>
@@ -108,22 +28,6 @@
     <ClCompile Include="main.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="U8U16Test.cpp" />
   </ItemGroup>
-  <ItemGroup>
-    <None Include="packages.config" />
-    <None Include="PropertySheet.props" />
-    <Text Include="readme.txt">
-      <DeploymentContent>false</DeploymentContent>
-    </Text>
-  </ItemGroup>
-  <Import Project="$(VCTargetsPath)\Microsoft.Cpp.targets" />
-  <ImportGroup Label="ExtensionTargets">
-    <Import Project="..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets" Condition="Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" />
-  </ImportGroup>
-  <Target Name="EnsureNuGetPackageBuildImports" BeforeTargets="PrepareForBuild">
-    <PropertyGroup>
-      <ErrorText>This project references NuGet package(s) that are missing on this computer. Use NuGet Package Restore to download them. See "http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=322105" for further information. The missing file is "{0}".</ErrorText>
-    </PropertyGroup>
-    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.props'))" />
-    <Error Condition="!Exists('..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets')" Text="$([System.String]::Format('$(ErrorText)', '..\..\..\packages\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.2.0.201017.1\build\native\Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT.targets'))" />
-  </Target>
-</Project>
\ No newline at end of file
+
+  <Import Project="..\..\common.build.post.props" />
+</Project>
diff --git a/src/tools/U8U16Test/packages.config b/src/tools/U8U16Test/packages.config
deleted file mode 100644
index 0390436b7..000000000
--- a/src/tools/U8U16Test/packages.config
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<packages>
-  <package id="Microsoft.Windows.CppWinRT" version="2.0.201017.1" targetFramework="native" />
-</packages>
\ No newline at end of file