FEATURE ARTICLE University of Virginia Jefferson Rotunda Rehabilitation The Rotunda stands on the lawn of the original grounds of the University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville and is the most important individual architectural work of Thomas Jefferson, founder of the university in 1819. Designed when Jefferson was over 70, it was modeled after the Pantheon in Rome. He designed it to represent the "authority of nature and power of reason." At 77 ft (23.5 m), the Rotunda is half the diameter of the Pantheon. It was the centerpiece of the Academical Village, which was Jefferson’s vision of students and professors living together in a community of learning. Jefferson designed the Rotunda and submitted plans to the university in 1821. It was still under construction when he died in 1826. Initially, classrooms and lecture halls were located in suites of oval rooms that divided up the first two floors while the library was placed on the domed third floor. The original Rotunda construction cost $57,773 (about $1.5 million in 2014 dollars). The stairs leading to the south portico were not built until 1832. There were originally two south wings containing exercise rooms (the “gymnasia”). In 1841, these wings were enclosed and converted to classroom space in response to the increased university enrollment. From 1851 to 1854, the Annex, or New Hall, a four-story wing with a basement, was added to the north side to provide additional classroom space as well as an auditorium and laboratory. Also in 1854, two 7,000 gallon (26,500 liter) tanks were installed in the cavities of the bricks supporting the dome to provide water to the Academical Village. In 1895, a fire broke out in the Annex due to faulty wiring, and the Rotunda was entirely gutted, leaving only the brick walls intact. University students were able to save the life-size marble likeness of Jefferson as well as a portion of the books from the library and some artwork. The original wood dome was replaced by a tile dome in 1898. The rebuilt interior, designed by Stanford White, had only two floors, with a larger, two-story dome room. The Annex was not rebuilt, however, White added the north portico and esplanades to match the south wings. Capitals supporting the portico were rough cut and installed in 1899 and not carved in place in 1904. More Recent History Alderman Library opened in 1938, replacing the Rotunda as the primary university library. Further restoration of the interior, a $136,373 project (about $1.8 million in 2014 dollars) overseen by Stanislaw Makielski, included the creation of a ground-level covered passage called the cryptoporticus in the south wing and marble replacing the previously sandstone steps on the south side of the Rotunda. AUTHORS Robert Bergwall, P.E., Daniel Stevenson, P.E., Morgan NeSmith, P.E., Berkel & Company Contractors DEEP FOUNDATIONS • SEPT/OCT 2015 • 79
