Scott Shipp Hall (c1918), is one of the core academic classroom buildings at the Virginia Military Institute. This facility, originally constructed in 1918 and expanded in 1955, serves the Institute’s academic programs in the Liberal Arts including the departments of English, International Studies, Economic/Business, Modern Languages, and History. With the Corp of Cadets growing at VMI, G&HA was commissioned to complete a rehabilitation and expansion of the facility, including renovation and rehabilitation of approximately 66,840-square-feet, and a five-story 28,000-square-foot addition. Work included a complete redesign of the 1955 wing while restoring much of the original 1918 character. The new addition is designed with a compatible Gothic Revival style to match the original structure and the overall character of VMI’s academic facilities.
The building includes five stories on a heavily sloping site and is located on a key corner of the main access road through the Post. Among the challenges in the project included developing a phasing plan to allow a portion of the building to remain operational for classes throughout the project construction. The compact site area also required careful design consideration to integrate the facility and create better accessibility for the facility, without impacting the adjacent Letcher Avenue or overwhelming surrounding facilities. The facility includes the addition of new classrooms, interactive learning spaces, faculty offices, a photo lab, and significant new space for Cadet study areas. A new Front Entry Terrace will serve as the review stand for Cadet leadership to review the daily parade of Cadets down Letcher Avenue. New technology has been integrated throughout the project to provide state-of-the-art learning spaces for the next generation of VMI Cadets.
Designed by architect Stanford White and constructed in 1909, Carr’s Hill is home to the President of the University of Virginia and provides meeting and entertainment space for University events. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register, this signature historic property has been renovated for the first time. Glavé & Holmes, in collaboration with Associated Architects John G Waite Associates, prepared a feasibility study to provide programming and a site study for a new entertainment pavilion. The study included site analysis, massing studies and the development of a site plan. The team was subsequently awarded the full project to restore the exterior and interior of the historic house, as well as provide outdoor event space.
The renovation work was designed and executed to high preservation standards and in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The landscape was also sensitively redesigned to support events in an unobtrusive way. The goal was to minimize permanent change to significant features of the buildings and site while making it more functional for modern use. Restoration design was also completed for the out-buildings located on the Carr’s Hill site.
Carr’s Hill was awarded first place for Historic Preservation at the IIDA Virginia & West Virginia Chapter/ASID IDEAS Awards, AIA Virginia’s Excellence in Design Historic Preservation Honor Award as well as the Historic Preservation Merit Award from AIA Richmond. This project is LEED Certified.
THE SCOTT HOUSE is one of Richmond’s most significant examples of American Renaissance architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was completed in 1911 and acquired by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2001. The 18,000-square-foot mansion was built for Frederic William Scott and his wife Elizabeth Strother Scott. It was modeled after the Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island, which referenced the Petit Trianon at Versailles. Interior plasterwork is attributed to prominent sculptor and plaster contractor, Ferruccio Legnaioli.
VCU commissioned Glavé & Holmes Architecture (G&HA) to provide a feasibility study to assess existing conditions, programming, and conceptual design. Subsequently, G&HA was selected to provide a historically-sensitive rehabilitation to allow the building to serve as meeting and event space for visiting and University groups.
Goals for rehabilitation the Scott House included restoration of the exterior masonry and windows; upgraded mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems; and new restrooms, office space and meeting rooms. While the rehabilitation will serve a variety of modern programmatic functions, the building’s historic fabric was restored in accordance with the Secretaty of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and the University’s preservation philosophy for historic buildings.
GLAVÉ & HOLMES ARCHITECTURE renovated the nearly 70,000 sf building that previously housed the Rockingham Memorial Hospital Cancer Center, for use as a new Admissions Office for James Madison University. The building was constructed in 1989 as a clinical annex to the hospital. The project consisted of a full interior renovation as well as restorative work to the exterior envelope. Additionally, a new colonnade with a tower and a pavilion was provided to create a welcoming entry to the building.
The renovated facility houses the Admissions Office, the Center for Assessment and Research Studies, the Graduate School and the Office of International Programs. The conversion of the previous nuclear medicine area provided a nuclear laboratory for the Physics department. The new design provides faculty and staff offices, meeting rooms, small scale academic spaces, and other mixed uses serving the needs of the University.
GLAVÉ & HOLMES ARCHITECTURE (G&HA) adapted the former Rugby Road Administration Building, now O’Neil Hall, for new use as office space for senior administrative staff and other administrative functions. Originally constructed in 1924 for faculty housing, this historically significant structure is an example of the Jeffersonian classicism prominent during the early-twentieth century. O’Neil Hall is in a prominent location, offering views of the nearby mountains, and has a deep setback that provides for a gracious entrance. Goals for this project included preserving the historic and architectural significance and restoring the facility’s aesthetic, while upgrading the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. This project was completed in compliance with Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation and has achieved LEED Silver certification.
PAYNE HALL (c. 1831), Washington Hall (c. 1824), and Robinson Hall (c. 1841) now known as Chavis Hall, are National Historic Landmarks and are at the center of the W&L National Register Historic District. They are the most historically significant buildings on campus. G&HA was commissioned to lead the design for a complete rehabilitation of all three buildings.
G&HA worked with the University to optimize use of space for faculty offices, work rooms, classroom space, and administrative offices, including the office of the President and executive staff. In addition to academic space, G&HA participated in the creation of an exhibition, which tells the story of George Washington’s role as a major early benefactor of the university.
G&HA followed the guidelines from the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation to preserve the major character and defining features in each building while upgrading all the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life safety systems throughout. The interior environment was also significantly refreshed, creating a pleasant environment for students, faculty, and staff. The project received LEED Silver Certification and historic tax credits through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s tax credit program.
NEWCOMB HALL is the westernmost of five buildings comprising the Colonnade that forms the heart of the Washington and Lee University (W&L) campus. As part of the Colonnade, the building is historically significant and, among other distinctions, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Glavé & Holmes Architecture (G&HA) was commissioned to renovate the original three-story academic building (c. 1882) to the south and the three-level addition with mezzanine and two story wings (c. 1937) to the north. During the programming phase, G&HA was charged with determining the capacity of the existing building and optimizing office and administrative spaces for various departments to allow for future flexibility and growth.
G&HA preserved most of the historic fabric of the existing building. The character and style was maintained on the exterior, while the interiors were upgraded to current standards within the limits of preserving and maintaining the historic integrity of the individual spaces and of the building as a whole. As a result, the interior spaces provide a warm and inviting academic environment with ample opportunity for casual interaction between students, faculty, and staff.
The project has achieved LEED Silver Certification, the first for the W&L. It also received historic tax credits through the Commonwealth’s tax credit program.
Glavé & Holmes was engaged to provide a “signature” design for William & Mary’s Alumni House. Sited prominently near the north campus entry and the football stadium, the expansion respects the historic Bright House serving as the current Alumni Center, as well as the college’s campus aesthetic.
The expansion consists of a three-level addition and limited renovation to the existing building to provide space for banqueting 400 people, as well as requisite support spaces. The design concept reflects the architectural character of William & Mary’s historic campus and provides a prominent new entry. The addition is set back from the existing building, and a flanking wing creates an entry court that is on axis with a new entry drive. Additional terraces provide spaces for gathering and various outdoor events. The building will house Alumni Association administrative offices and will provide assembly space for meetings and alumni functions.