The University of Georgia’s restoration of the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building, a historic anchor of UGA’s North Campus, has earned top honors from local, state and national organizations recognizing excellence in preservation and design.
The project received 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 honors highlight the university’s commitment to preserving both the architectural heritage and cultural significance of one of its most iconic buildings.
Originally constructed in three phases between 1832 and 1905, the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building has served many roles in its nearly 200-year history, from housing the university library to becoming a central administrative hub. It was renamed in 2001 to honor Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first African American students to enroll at UGA in 1961.
“The Holmes-Hunter Academic Building is not only architecturally significant — it’s a landmark of our institutional history,” said Gwynne Darden, associate vice president for facilities planning. “The restoration was guided by a profound sense of respect and responsibility. We’re honored that our efforts to preserve the building’s legacy have been recognized by organizations at every level, including right here in Athens.
Director of Historic Preservation Scott Messer of the University Architect’s office talks about the cast iron columns on a tour inside the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building renovation project. (Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)
The renovation preserved key historic features while updating the building for modern use. Crews refurbished and reinstalled original 1905 pine floors, restored century-old windows with new hardware and recreated cast iron elements and stucco details using archival images. In the north wing, hand-painted 19th-century maps were uncovered and conserved after decades hidden beneath paint.
Additional improvements reintroduced historic circulation paths, enhanced intuitive wayfinding with corridor-end windows and removed a 1970s-era addition that had obscured the building’s original west façade. One of the most significant elements of the project was the restoration of the interior courtyard, which now serves as a natural skylight for the interior spaces and pays tribute to Holmes and Hunter-Gault.
The $30 million project was approved in 2021 by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. It was supported by a $15 million gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, which accelerated the timeline by several years. The project also received support from the Georgia Power Company and Regions Bank.
In addition to the awards for Holmes-Hunter, UGA received a Stewardship Award from the Georgia Trust for Demosthenian Hall, along with further recognition for the university’s Science and Ag Hill Modernization project.
