UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PAVILION III HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORT PAVILION III UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA PAVILION III UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA HISTORIC STRUCTURE REPORT MESICK COHEN WILSON BAKER ARCHITECTS 2006 © Copyright 2006 Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects and The University of Virginia PREPARED FOR UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA PREPARED BY MESICKCOHENWILSONBAKER ARCHITECTS 388 BROADWAY ALBANY, NEW YORK 12207 3302 CRAGGY OAK COURT WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA 23188 PARTNERS-IN CHARGE JOHN I MESICK M. JEFFREY BAKER ARCHITECTURAL STAFF GINA GUNDERSEN THOMAS BURGESS ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIANS MARK WENGER ERIC GRADOIA CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS i FOREWORD vii INTRODUCTION 1 HISTORY 4 HISTORY OF OCCUPANTS 32 CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY 76 EXTERIOR ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION 95 INTERIOR ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION 111 PROBLEMS OF REPAIR 165 APPENDIX MECHANICAL SYSTEMS SURVEY A LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Pavilion III, ca. 1880. Group containing Professor Harrison, Professor Holmes and Colonel Venable in front. Print 05944. Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. v Thomas Jefferson’s plans and elevation for Pavilion III. Changes to the sec- ond fl oor plan were drawn on a separate piece of paper and attached to the original drawing with wax. N316. Albert and Shirley Small Special Collec- tions Library, University of Virginia. 3 The Corinthian of Palladio from Quattro Libri dell’Architettura by Andrea Palladio. Leoni edition, 1721. Book I, Plate XXIV. Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. 8 Thomas Jefferson’s notes and specifi cations for Pavilion III. Specifi cations Book, dated July 18, 1819. N318. Albert and Shirley Small Special Collec- tions Library, University of Virginia. 13 Thomas Jefferson’s notes and specifi cations for Pavilion III. Specifi cations Book, dated July 18, 1819. N318. Albert and Shirley Small Special Collec- tions Library, University of Virginia. 14 Thomas Jefferson’s original plan for the second fl oor of Pavilion III. Re- search shows the pavilion was originally constructed according to Jefferson’s revised drawing laid over this plan. 16 Asa H. Brooks initials “AHB” carved into one of the east studs of the gable. 17 Palladio and Scamozzi Upon the Ionique Order from A Parallel of the An- cient Architecture with the Modern, Roland Freart de Chambray, 1766. Plate 18, page 53. 22 Du portique du temple d’Antonin et de Faustine, a Rome from Les Edifi ces Antiques de Rome, Antoine Babuty Desgodetz, 1779. Plate IV, page 50. Al- bert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. 23 Corinthian Capital 26 John A. G. Davis 35 Henry Howard, M.D. 43 View of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville and Monticello. Printed by F. Sachse and Company and published by C. Bohn, 1856. 44 i LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS William E. Peters 45 Dr. James F. Harrison 47 The Harrison family in front of Pavilion III. Photograph taken by Eugene A. Perry, ca 1880. Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, Univer- sity of Virginia. 48 Harrison and his family northwest of the Rotunda. June, 1877. Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. 51 James M. Garnett 52 Raleigh C. Minor 57 Pavilion III ca. 1930. Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. 60 Gordon T. Whyburn 63 D. Rutledge Vining 64 Frank Finger 65 John W. Rosenblum 67 William W. Harmon 68 Type 1 Window 73 Type 2 Window 74 Type 3 Window 75 Axonometric drawing of roof framing. 95 Detail of entablature, Corinthian capital and base. 96 Detail of roof and entablature framing. 97 Photograph of east elevation 99 Drawings of north and east elevations. 104 Drawings of south and west elevations. 105 Longitudinal section looking north and transverse section looking west. 109 ii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Longitudinal section looking south and transverse section looking west. 110 Axonometric drawing of basement 111 Original Basement Plan 112 Existing Basement Plan 113 Elevations and Profi les of Door Types 120 Elevations and Profi les of Door Types 121 Baseboard and chair rail profi les 124 Room Cornice Profi les 129 Axonometric drawing of fi rst fl oor 130 Original First Floor Plan 131 Conjectural Wall and Stair Locations Based on Ghost Marks 133 Existing First Floor Plan 134 Stair Hall Archway 136 Room 102 Former Lecture Room 138 Room 102 Mantel Elevation and Details 139 Room 103 Mantel Elevation and Details 143 First Floor Staircase 145 Axonometric drawing of second fl oor 147 Original Second Floor Plan 148 Existing Second Floor Plan 150 Architrave Profi les 151 Room 203 Former Parlor 154 Room 203 Cornice 156 iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS The Ionic entablature is from Roland Fréart de Chambray’s Parallele de l’Architecture Antique avec la Moderne. The gryphon ornament in the frieze is from Antoine Desgodetz, Les Edifi ces Antiques de Rome. 157 Room 204 Southwest Chamber 159 Pavilion III Roof. July 2005 166 Inferior quality replacement material is failing throughout the entablature. July 2005 167 Crack in abacus of southern most capital. 168 Basement Electrical Plan 189 First Floor Electrical Plan 191 Second Floor Electrical Plan 193 Basement Mechanical Plan 195 First Floor Mechanical Plan 197 Second Floor Mechanical Plan 199 Basement Plumbing Plan 201 Second Floor Plumbing Plan 203 iv Pavilion III, ca. 1880. Group containing Professor Harrison, Professor Holmes and Colo- nel Venable in front. Print 05944. Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. v FOREWORD his is the sixth historic structure report undertaken for buildings in the Academical Village since 1986, part of a commitment by The University Tof Virginia to produce a comprehensive analysis of the Jefferson buildings which are the physical, intellectual and emotional center of the institution. The studies have so far focused on the pavilions, and each has expanded our understanding of the early history of the University and its evolution as a place and as a community. For example, Pavilion III, which is one of only two pavilions not to have been enlarged, appears at fi rst glance to be very close to its original condition. However, this report reveals a complex history of addition and subtraction on the interior – walls appearing and disappearing, a stair being removed, and doors and windows changing places. This record of activity demonstrates how the building has changed to accommodate different uses as a home, classroom or offi ce, all the while maintaining Thomas Jefferson’s goal of bringing together the daily lives of the faculty, staff and students. The Pavilion III historic structure report arrives at a signifi cant moment for historic preservation at the University. As research on the Jefferson buildings continues with the commissioning of an historic structure report for the Rotunda, appreciation for the buildings and landscapes beyond the Jefferson precinct lead to the recently completed Historic Preservation Framework Plan funded in part through a Campus Heritage Grant from the Getty Foundation. The ongoing efforts to understand the Jefferson buildings now occur in context of the Historic Preservation Framework Plan. The University has recognized that the special character and sense of place here derive not just from the Academical Village, but from the nearly two hundred later buildings and landscapes which form the Grounds we know today. The Framework Plan describes the later development of the campus and relates the building here to both Jefferson’s aspirations for the University and to broader national trends in architecture and urban design. The history, design, condition, and integrity of the buildings and landscapes have been evaluated to establish a ranking system which describes each building’s or landscape’s signifi cance to the University. This plan provides both a physical and cultural history of the University and another tool to use in making decisions about vii renovations and allocation of maintenance funds. Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects have participated in nearly all of the historic structure reports to date and have also written the Historic Preservation Framework Plan for the University. Their continued presence has provided a much appreciated consistency and solid body of knowledge which has enhanced all of the work. The ongoing documentation of the Academical Village and the production of the Historic Preservation Framework Plan are evidence of the University’s ongoing commitment to both historic preservation and to the exploration of the institution’s own history. David J. Neuman, FAIA Architect for the University Charlottesville April, 2006 viii INTRODUCTION n 1988 the fi rst historic structure report involving the buildings of Jefferson’s University was prepared on Pavilion I initiating an ongoing program to Iinvestigate and document the buildings and landscapes of Thomas Jefferson’s Academical Village at the University of Virginia. Following Pavilion I, historic structure reports have been produced for Pavilion VI (1991), Pavilion II (1992), Pavilion V (1994) and Pavilion VII (2002). This report on Pavilion III continues to build on the body of knowledge gained through the careful study of these unique architectural masterpieces. The challenge of preserving the Academical Village is a weighty task; unlike many other historic sites, Jefferson’s Academical Village continues to serve as an academic institution; its original purpose. Since the time of its creation the site has remained in a constant state of change, a product of the succeeding generations that have lived and worked there through time. Only in recent times, has Jefferson’s “Academical Village” been viewed as a work of art worthy of curatorship. Inclusion of the Jefferson Precinct on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 underscored the signifi cance of the site and the need for a disciplined, rational approach to its care. A thorough understanding of the history, evolution and signifi cance of each structure within the Village is fundamental to the conservation of the buildings and site as a whole. Only when such research is in hand can one manage these cultural resources in an informed and respectful way.