Period
1831
Hampden-Sydney College: Venable Hall
Location
Hampden Sydney, Virginia
HISTORIC LEGACY
Venable Hall at Hampden-Sydney College is a significant American architectural landmark and is one of the oldest buildings at one of the oldest colleges in America, established in 1776. Venable Hall was constructed between 1824 and 1831 by the respected masons/builders Dabney Cosby and John Perry, who previously worked under Thomas Jefferson at the University of Virginia and Monticello.
The building has been continuously occupied as a dormitory for over 200 years. Over the intervening years, the building has undergone multiple renovations with significant changes to its plan and finishes. This most recent rehabilitation aimed to preserve the building’s historic features, restore features that were lost, and to address the modern needs of a contemporary dormitory.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
This restoration project aimed to highlight the building’s historic character and fabric while blending the functional requirements imposed by modern dormitory facilities. The work involved preserving original architectural features, such as the heart pine wood floors, fireplaces in each room (concealed in past renovations), doors and architraves, and decorative classical moldings.
Modernization required that a new addition be constructed at the rear side to accommodate egress stairs, ADA access circulation, elevator, bathrooms, and mechanical rooms. The primary interior spaces were restored largely to their original circulation and room configuration and finishes. The project also received tax credits from the State of Virginia’s historic tax credit program and implemented requirements of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Rehabilitation.
RESEARCH & DOCUMENTATION
MCWB was retained to conduct a Feasibility Study that began by surveying the building as a whole through the use of 3D technology including drone photogrammetry and laser scanning. The survey helped develop accurate floor plans, conduct a code analysis, and assess the conditions of MEP systems, windows, building structure, and finishes. MCWB was tasked with developing a physical dorm room mock-up based on extensive physical evidence discovered during the Study.
The condition and configuration of Venable Hall’s plan presented several functional challenges. The two-story Parents & Friends Lounge split the building, creating circulation issues between the east and west wings and even discontinuous circulation within the floors of the east wing. Some historic dorm rooms had been converted into bathrooms; most rooms had mundane modern finishes; the elevator served only two floors, and the building had an outdated HVAC system. A thorough survey and analysis was conducted to identify ways to restore the building’s historic features while improving its functionality.
DESIGN
The design vision emphasized the restoration of Venable Hall’s historic features alongside the introduction of modern amenities. Vinyl flooring, added closets, and bland finishes were removed in favor of refinished original heart pine wood floors, historically accurate baseboards and chair rails, doors, moldings, restored fireboxes with new mantels, and a historically based paint palette.
The new rear addition was designed to complement the original structure, using materials and proportions that blend with the building’s historic architecture, while meeting the challenges of the Secretary of the Interior Standards. This addition addressed issues such as the offset of floor levels between the east and west wings and provided the space needed for modern upgrades, including larger bathrooms, a new elevator, and space for more efficient mechanical systems.
