Additional fee, registration required.Located on the Washington National Cathedral campus, the Virginia Mae Center reclaims a 1929 structure that once served as the College of Preachers, providing dormitories and educational space before it was left vacant for more than 10 years.
This tour will highlight what resulted from a comprehensive renovation and restoration plan to transform the former college into a contemporary education center. You'll discuss the renovation of the historic chapel, library, lobby, refectory, and cloisters into flexible meeting spaces and see the upgrades and additional guest rooms that allow for in-residence courses and retreats.
Lunch will be provided.
This is a bus tour.
Learning Objectives
- Explore the role historic preservation plays in evaluating, designing, and transforming a building for contemporary use while maintaining ties to its original function and history.
- Learn about preservation processes, including research and building assessment surveys to determine scope of restoration work and new design options.
- Assess the project's design strategies to meet contemporary building code, fire protection, and accessibility requirements within a historic building envelope and steeply sloped site.
- Experience the building's dynamic transformation from a compact arrangement of rooms dispersed across 15 different levels to a welcoming and accessible layout.