The University of Georgia’s revival of the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building, a pivotal landmark of UGA’s North Campus, has attained prestigious accolades from local, state, and national bodies acknowledging excellence in conservation and design.
The undertaking garnered the Excellence in Rehabilitation Award from the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation; a Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture for Rehabilitation, Restoration, or Preservation from the Society for College and University Planning; and an Outstanding Restoration Award from Historic Athens. These recognitions underscore the university’s dedication to maintaining both the architectural legacy and cultural importance of one of its most celebrated structures.
Initially built in three stages between 1832 and 1905, the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building has fulfilled numerous functions throughout its nearly 200-year legacy, ranging from housing the university library to serving as a pivotal administrative center. It was renamed in 2001 to honor Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the inaugural African American students to enroll at UGA in 1961.
“The Holmes-Hunter Academic Building is not just architecturally important — it represents a milestone in our institutional narrative,” stated Gwynne Darden, associate vice president for facilities planning. “The restoration was directed by a deep sense of reverence and obligation. We’re privileged that our efforts to safeguard the building’s heritage have been acknowledged by organizations at all levels, including right here in Athens.”
Director of Historic Preservation Scott Messer of the University Architect’s office discusses the cast iron columns on a tour inside the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building renovation project. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)
The refurbishment maintained essential historical features while modernizing the building for contemporary use. Teams restored and reinstated original 1905 pine flooring, rejuvenated century-old windows with updated hardware, and recreated cast iron components and stucco embellishments using archival photographs. In the north wing, hand-painted 19th-century maps were unearthed and preserved after being obscured for decades by layers of paint.
Additional enhancements reinstated historic circulation routes, improved user-friendly navigation with corridor-end windows, and removed a 1970s addition that had hidden the building’s original west façade. One of the key aspects of the project was the revitalization of the interior courtyard, which now functions as a natural skylight for the inner spaces and honors Holmes and Hunter-Gault.
The $30 million initiative gained approval in 2021 from the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. It was bolstered by a $15 million contribution from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, expediting the timeline by several years. The project also received assistance from the Georgia Power Company and Regions Bank.
Alongside the honors for Holmes-Hunter, UGA was presented with a Stewardship Award from the Georgia Trust for Demosthenian Hall, in addition to further accolades for the university’s Science and Ag Hill Modernization project.
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