Carr’s Hill, the President’s House at UVA

Alexander Nicholson is Central Virginia’s premier historic preservation contractor. In 2019, we had the honor of restoring Carr’s Hill, the President’s House at the University of Virginia. Carr’s Hill was originally designed by the notorious architect Stanford White, of McKim, Meade, and White Architects, who were known for their Beaux-Arts masterworks of the early 20th century. After serving as home to eight university presidents since its construction in 1909, Carr’s Hill was in need of a full restoration and modernization.

The project took two years of collaboration between a team of preservation and building professionals at UVA Facilities Management, John G. Waite Architects, and Glavé & Holmes Architecture. Our team installed a massive steel superstructure in the attic to stabilize the century-old house, as well as modern HVAC and automation, and a host of new interior and exterior spaces designed for hosting University events.

Our Carr’s Hill project has won a number of awards, including AIA Virginia’s Historic Preservation Honor Award, AIA Richmond’s Historic Preservation Merit Award, USGBC VA’s Rise to the Challenge Award, and a LEED Silver Certification.