The historic Downtown Mall is one of Charlottesville’s most important cultural resources. In the mid-twentieth century, small downtowns across America crumbled. With the ubiquity of the automobile, residents dispersed to suburbs and took their business to strip malls and shopping centers for the first time. Charlottesville’s leadership took action. Landscape architect Lawrence Halprin was hired to transform our downtown into a pedestrian promenade inspired by the best urban centers of Europe. Eight blocks of historic buildings were preserved, while Main Street was paved with brick, lined with a canopy of oaks, and punctuated by benches and fountains. The revitalized pedestrian Mall became central to Charlottesville’s nationally-renowned restaurant and entertainment culture.
Traditional storefront façades, so integral to our Downtown, are protected by a mandate from the Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review. Alexander Nicholson is able to tackle the detailed, precise work required to preserve these original storefronts and integrate them with modern development. Recently, Alexander Nicholson has kept a tight hold on the original façade of the Carytown Tobacco Shop while Hourigan builds the new Center of Developing Entrepreneurs (CODE) Building at the west end of the Mall. Hourigan, and their engineering consultant Schnabel, contracted local civil engineering firm Dunbar Milby Williams Pittman & Vaughan to design a bracing system that could support the historic storefront while the remainder of the shop was demolished.
Alexander Nicholson carefully installed the bracing. After coordinating the separation of the façade from its original building, we clamped the remaining layer of bricks and traditional moldings between an intricate latticework of 8” x 8” beams and threaded rods. The entire system was supported by steel buttresses set into massive concrete counterweights on the ground below. When Hourigan completes construction of the CODE Building, we’ll gently remove our bracing from the Tobacco Shop’s façade. Next, we’ll structurally tie it to the state-of-the-art office space, preserving the architectural character of the Mall while giving the CODE Building a traditional entrance on Main Street.
With 41 years of experience building in Central Virginia, Alexander Nicholson has the skill and flexibility to take on a range of unique construction projects. Because our team is devoted to craftsmanship, we’re able to work with fragile historic materials, culturally-significant buildings, and detailed engineering requirements. We pride ourselves on catering to the specific needs of the most discerning clients, and contributing to the betterment of our community.
Whether your next project is in Downtown Charlottesville, on a farm in Central Virginia, or in your own backyard, Alexander Nicholson is prepared to focus on craftsmanship, community, and precision for the duration of construction.
