A Proposed Restoration of Rouss Hall on the Lawn of the University of Virginia

March 1997

Rouss Hall, built in 1898, faces the South Lawn of Thomas Jefferson's academical village. It is a registered Historic Landmark building designed by the noted architect, Stanford White. The neoclassical lines and exterior balance of the American Renaissance style remain, but the interior has suffered from a string of makeshift changes. A recent unsuccessful proposal to the Virginia legislature involved upgrading the mechanical systems (heating, plumbing, air conditioning, fire code, and access). Rouss is now due for a major renovation in a couple of years, and we would like to suggest an ambitious project that goes beyond engineering improvements.

With about five hundred majors, the Department of Economics is one of the largest in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Rouss is the most heavily used building that directly faces the Lawn. Restoring Rouss Hall to fit a Jeffersonian theme would be a high-visibility project requiring substantial external fundraising and a world-class restoration architect who is sensitive to Jefferson's vision. The Rotunda, once a library, is now used primarily for lectures and banquets, as teaching activities have shifted toward the South Lawn and West Campus areas. A renovation of Rouss Hall is a rare opportunity to revive Thomas Jefferson's vision of a domed space with skylights that would be more than a silent museum for tourists, but rather a focal point for daily interaction and exchange of ideas among students and faculty. The large windows, high vertical spaces, and neoclassical lines of the building offer remarkable possibilities. A major renovation should be attempted only if the quality of the interior design and construction could be raised dramatically, while preserving the classroom/office function that keeps economics students and faculty on the central grounds.

The first step is to obtain about $35,000 for schematic and conceptual design work that can start a planning/fund-raising process. This is where we stand now. In addition, we have been told that the University will request planning funds from the Commonwealth, with a somewhat higher priority than the proposal that was not funded two years ago. If you are interested in this project, please contact the Arts and Sciences Development Office (804 924-7213).

Sincerely,