Light House Studio: Expanded Community Engagement

Light House Studio is a Charlottesville non-profit organization that offers filmmaking classes to young people, empowering them with the skills and confidence to thrive as storytellers and citizens. Alexander Nicholson is proud to have contributed to their effort. We recently completed a contemporary three-story addition at Light House Studio’s Vinegar Hill Theater.

Alexander Nicholson has spent several years rejuvenating Light House Studio’s downtown headquarters. The new addition, the final stage of our transformative project, takes advantage of a steeply sloped site overlooking the intersection of Water Street and Ridge Street. Two levels of learning space are tucked into the hillside behind a new glass entrance hall. Inside, a dramatic industrial stairwell leads to a pair of classrooms that feature a permanent greenscreen, numerous computer stations, and areas for creative collaboration. A third-floor terrace offers young filmmakers a dedicated spot for outdoor shots and elevated views of the city.

 The thoughtful building expansion was envisioned by Wolf / Ackerman Architecture + Design, a local firm with a commitment to community service. Their team specified materials and construction techniques that balanced Light House Studio’s functional and creative needs. Alexander Nicholson was happy to work with a trusted design partner to bring the project to life.

Several months after beginning construction on the addition, the reality of the coronavirus pandemic set in. Project Manager Drew Dunnington was faced with significantly extended material lead-times, and the responsibility of managing the health of everyone on site. Careful scheduling decreased exposure risk and kept the project on track.

With the new spaces now ready for primetime, Light House Studio will be able to expand its influence, offering filmmaking classes to more young people than ever before.  

If you’re interested in building in the community, reach out to us!

Historical Renovations: How are they different?

Charlottesville and the surrounding areas have a lot of history behind them. We asked the Alexander Nicholson team what makes historical renovations different from other types of projects. Here’s what they said:

1. Being able to adapt is important. Going into the start of the project with an open mind is key. There are definitely different problems that arise with an older building. You may need to implement things you would not ordinarily.

2. Be willing to take the time to find the subcontractors who are able to accomplish the specific tasks that need to be done. Finding carpenters is important in that process. You are trying to put something back together that was built many years earlier, so special care is needed.

3. Patience. Historical renovations are generally longer projects and more calculated ones, too.

4. To be more calculated, clients generally should have (or the contractor will help curate) contingency plans. This helps with possible unforeseen issues you may run into.

5. Overall, finding the right architect and contractor is a must. Some have much more experience with historical details, and those are the ones you want working on your project.

Now Open: The River Burger Bar in Downtown Waynesboro

Alexander Nicholson finished the renovation of The River Burger Bar in downtown Waynesboro, Va. right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Virginia governor’s stay-at-home order. That didn’t stop the community’s enthusiasm for this new restaurant, however. when the Waynesboro burger bar opened for takeout only, they still sold more than 1,000 burgers in the first week. The River is owned by Mandi Smack, co-owner of other popular restaurants, Blue Mountain Brewery, Blue Mountain Barrel House, and South Street Brewery.

Before long, patrons will get a look at the freshly renovated interior when dining-in again becomes an option. The building dates back to 1894 and has had at least six different iterations as restaurants, each one built out over the last. Locals may remember Jake’s Bar and Grill and the Schooner as two somewhat recent versions. The Alexander Nicholson team had to demolish the remnants of all those previous restaurants and take the construction down to the joists and through four layers of subfloor.

Its new, modern look incorporates whitewashed exposed brick, antique barn wood siding, and a fully restored, original tin ceiling.

Job superintendent Garrett Irwin said, “In the kitchen, the original builders had used leftover materials from the tin ceiling to protect the walls. We were able to delicately remove that preserved tin and use it to patch the ceiling and bring it back to its original glory.”

Vast improvements were made to the original bathroom facilities, expanding the rooms and adding sinks (instead of the previous design which was a communal sink outside the restrooms). New electric and plumbing were added, as well.

A signature feature of the new restaurant is a live-edge mahogany bar with a “river” of stones and clear epoxy running through it.

Alexander Nicholson completed the job in under 90 days, bringing the owner’s vision to life, just as she imagined it. Order online for now, and visit in the future, The River Burger Bar, 137 North Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro, Va.

Restoration Redux of Kirklea at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Ivy, Virginia

Twenty-two years ago, Alexander Nicholson oversaw the renovation of a Victorian house located next to St. Paul’s Church in Ivy. At that time, the church was converting the property into offices and needed to rework the space to make it comfortable and efficient.

In 2018, St. Paul’s church came calling again, this time for a more significant redesign and renovation of the house. The most recent improvements include replacing the roof, upgrading the heating and air conditioning, finishing out the unused space on the third floor, and installing a copper roof built to last for a hundred years. The project took about 10 months to complete.

“The history of the house is interesting – it was the home of the Archdeacon Frederick Neve who had it built in 1904. Many years later when the house was for sale, a parishioner of the church bought it and gifted it to the church,” said Quarles. “The Episcopal church has called on us multiple times for projects and we, along with Train Architects, have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the people, there.”

Kirk Train is the architect for this project. Train and Alexander Nicholson have partnered on many projects with St. Paul’s, including the renovation of the main parish hall over 20 years ago.