Building a Better Hollins

The following projects were recently completed on campus.

Turner Hall

Through the generosity of the Dickson Foundation, the Marietta McNeill Morgan and Samuel Tate Morgan, Jr. Foundation, the Priddy Challenge Grant Fund for Capital Improvements, and several individual donors, Turner Hall recently benefited from a facelift that included:

• Addition of a first floor porch with a red metal roof and white columns, creating a new main entrance to Turner from the Front Quadrangle.
• Modern climate control.
• New carpeting, lighting, and interior and exterior paint.
• Roof replacement using reflective material.
• ADA improvements, including a ramp and a lift to facilitate accessibility to the building's lower level.
• Landscaping between Turner Hall and the Richard Wetherill Arts Center

Bradley Hall 

The support of individual donors and a grant from the Roller-Bottimore Foundation enabled Hollins to renovate the lower level of historic Bradley Hall to serve as the new home of the co-curricular Batten Leadership Institute. The Batten Leadership Institute moved into the refurbished facility in summer 2007. The refurbished building will also provide a wonderful setting in which to expand leadership programming across the academic curriculum, including the new Certificate in Leadership Studies for undergraduate women. Hollins students participating in our leadership programs will benefit from an environment that offers:

• Modern climate control.
• New carpeting, flooring, and interior paint.
• Acoustic ceiling tile.
• Updated lighting, fans, and ceilings.
• Fire alarm and sprinkler systems.
  
  

Enhancements to Bradley’s lower level brought it up to date with the second floor of the facility, which houses Talmadge Recital Hall and attracts guests to campus for public performances and workshops.

Presser Hall

Music instruction at Hollins University takes place in historic Presser Hall, built in 1925 through the generosity of Theodore Presser, who taught music at Hollins from 1880 to 1883. One of the premier music educators of his day, Presser founded the Music Teachers National Association, The Presser Foundation, and the Theodore Presser Publishing Company, the oldest independent music publisher in the United States. 

The music facility on the Hollins campus is unique among the existing Presser Halls in that it is the very first of the Presser music buildings, constructed under Theodore Presser’s personal authorization and completed during his lifetime. 

The generous support of devoted alumnae, several foundations, and friends of the university enabled us to fully restore Presser Hall, including: 

• Updated classrooms and expanded practice areas
• An electronic piano laboratory
• Modern climate control and acoustical treatment
• A new seminar room and a new department lounge
• An elevator and other accessibility improvements
• Reconfiguration of the Erich Rath Music Library’s collection of more than 15,000 sound recordings, scores, and volumes for reference and study
• The McGehee Media Room, adjacent to the library, holds state-of-the-art media equipment and seating

The rededication of Presser Hall was on Thursday, February 22, 2007, as part of Hollins’ annual Founder’s Day celebration.

Beale Garden Restoration

The Beale Garden was established in 1930 to honor Hollins alumna Lucy Preston Beale, Class of 1864. It was restored under the direction of The Garden Club of Virginia, who officially presented a rejuvenated Lucy Preston Beale Memorial Garden to Hollins at a ceremony on October 18, 2006. The garden will be open annually during The Garden Club of Virginia's Historic Garden Week.

The restoration began in October 2005 adhering to the landscape plan used by A.A. Farnham in 1930. William D. Rieley of Rieley and Associates of Charlottesville served as the landscape architect. The restoration, as directed by The Garden Club of Virginia, included:

• Replacing the crumbling stone wall and steps to duPont Chapel and resurfacing the chapel terrace
• Replacing the large boxwoods on the terrace with small flowering trees
• Providing a view from the chapel into the garden
• Channeling the stream with larger stones and native plants
• Adding two new footbridges
• Re-establishing walking paths within the garden's original circular plan
         

Swannanoa Hall (formerly Starkie House and West Annex)

Hollins received a gift of $1.27 million to renovate Starkie House from a residential hall to a new home for the English and creative writing department. The building has been renamed Swannanoa Hall in honor of Swannanoa Horne Priddy, Hollins Class of 1911. Robert and Ruby Priddy of Wichita Falls, Texas, presented the gift in tribute to Mr. Priddy’s mother.

The renovation included:

• Developing office space, classrooms, and seminar areas for the English and creative writing department
• Upgrading the building’s electrical system to provide air conditioning
• Increasing accessibility within the facility with an elevator and other improvements
• Refinishing the wood floors, painting rooms, and replacing hallway carpeting
• Repairing and updating the steam heat distribution system
• Repairing and strengthening the building’s envelope and structure
  
  

The renovation is complete, and dedication of Swannanoa Hall was on April 21, 2006.