An Afternoon at Birdwood: A Private Historic Preservation Tour

An Afternoon at Birdwood: A Private Historic Preservation Tour

Birdwood Mansion
500 Birdwood Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22903

1:00-3:00pm (Tour 1:00-2:00, Garden Reception 2:00-3:00)

Description

This special tour for members and guests of the AIA Virginia Historic Resources Committee and the ICAA Washington Mid-Atlantic Chapter will explore the rich architectural history of Birdwood Mansion, one of Charlottesville’s most significant historic estates. Participants will enjoy guided access by the restoration architect of the mansion and grounds while learning about its evolution from an early 19th century residence to its recent rehabilitation. The tour will highlight the award-worthy restoration led by Glavé & Holmes Architecture, whose thoughtful approach balanced preservation of the mansion’s Jeffersonian character with its adaptive reuse for contemporary hospitality, in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

4 learning objectives

1. Identify key character-defining features of Birdwood Mansion and evaluate how they contribute to the building’s architectural, cultural, and historical significance.
2. Examine preservation strategies employed during the rehabilitation of Birdwood Mansion, including approaches used to meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation while accommodating a new hospitality use.
3. Analyze the challenges and opportunities associated with adaptive reuse of historic properties, using Birdwood Mansion as a case study for balancing historic integrity with contemporary programmatic and operational requirements.
4. Assess the role of architects, owners, preservation consultants, and community stakeholders in planning and executing a complex historic restoration project that preserves heritage while supporting long-term stewardship and public engagement.

HSW justification

AIA CES Health, Safety, and Welfare (HSW) Justification

This program qualifies for HSW credit because it examines the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of a historic building through the lens of occupant safety, building performance, accessibility, and long-term stewardship. Participants will gain an understanding of how the restoration of Birdwood Mansion addressed contemporary building code requirements, life-safety considerations, accessibility improvements, and infrastructure upgrades while preserving significant historic fabric. The tour will demonstrate how preservation architects balance public welfare and building safety with the protection of cultural resources, ensuring that historic structures remain functional, accessible, and sustainable for modern use. Through the Birdwood Mansion case study, attendees will explore the architect’s role in safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants while extending the useful life of an important historic property through responsible rehabilitation and adaptive reuse.

This tour has been submitted for AIA HSW credits.