Jefferson Rotunda – UVA – Charlottesville VA

Facade retention and underpinning of existing facility for structure rehabilitation

The Jefferson Rotunda is one of two structures in the U.S. designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Berkel designed/built an excavation support system to allow construction of interior and exterior below-grade basements and temporary support for excavation and renovation in the East Oval Room, East Courtyard, East Elevator, Southeast Terrace Office and Northeast Terrace Office. Berkel also designed/built the pictured steel shoring tower system to temporarily transfer roof loads of the porticos to foundations below while allowing unobstructed access removal and new capital replacement. The capitals were carved from 9,000-lb (40-kN) blocks primarily by computer-controlled lathe and finished by hand into 6,300-lb (28-kN) capitals.