President's House on Carr's Hill

Carr’s Hill is home to the President of the University of Virginia and provides indoor and outdoor gathering space for University events. The 14,000 square foot residence, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has served as the home to UVa’s nine presidents and has hosted several U.S. presidents and prominent figures. This is the first major renovation since it was constructed in 1909. The goals of the project included the long-term preservation of this historic structure through an extensive assessment of existing and historic conditions, and a rehabilitation that minimized changes to significant architectural features while updating it for modern use and energy efficiency. The design updates helped create a home that was appropriate for frequent formal events, yet comfortable and inviting as a private residence.

The site design, including formal event spaces and informal family recreation spaces, used low maintenance, native Virginia plants that will not require irrigation. The planting soil design includes restoration of native clay loam soils, which were locally sourced, with added compost to help retain soil moisture levels. The installation of low-flow indoor plumbing fixtures also helped reduce indoor water use by 28.96%.

The building is within a short walk to public transportation stops, restaurants, shops, places of worship, various University buildings and other publicly available services. This helps to encourage alternative transportation as well as physical activity, while minimizing the environmental impact associated with automobile use. Bike parking was included, and pedestrian walkways expanded.

Energy consumption was reduced by installing efficient electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems and separating the building from the less efficient University district systems. Other energy-saving measures include a new roof and insulation, high performance glazing and envelope assemblies, and interior and exterior LED lighting. With these updates, the energy model predicts an energy cost savings of 40.54%. During construction, over 96% of construction waste was diverted from the landfill through recycling and salvage efforts. Existing materials were retained and restored to the maximum extent possible, and “lost” building components, such as pocket doors found in an outbuilding, were restored and reinstalled.

Low-emitting paints and floor coatings were employed for surfaces. Direct views to the outdoors were included for over 94% of all regularly occupied areas of the building. Additionally, the existing building façade design and site design strategy makes the structure visible to birds, protecting the local bird population by reducing the threat of bird collision.