Eric Attends UVa Dean’s Forum at Barboursville Vineyard

The annual University of Virginia School of Architecture Dean’s Forum Dinner was held Saturday, September 26 at Barboursville Vineyards in Orange County, Virginia.  Barboursville, home of Governor Haley Barbour, was designed by Thomas Jefferson in his traditional Neo-classic style.

The annual University of Virginia School of Architecture Dean’s Forum Dinner was held Saturday, September 26 at Barboursville Vineyards in Orange County, Virginia.  Barboursville, home of Governor Haley Barbour, was designed by Thomas Jefferson in his traditional Neo-classic style.

The mansion, now a stabilized ruin, burned to the ground Christmas day 1884, but over the last three decades viticulturist Giani Zonin transformed the property into a successful vineyard.  UVa School of Architecture professors Mario Valmarana, architect, and Ben Howland, landscape architect, conducted a historic preservation course in the 1980’s that led to a cultural history report, assisting in the estate’s preservation.

Dean Elizabeth Myers presided over this year’s dinner with remarks by Paul Weinshenck, Foundation President (‘87 BSArch) and Mary Kay Lanzilotta, Dean’s Advisory Forum Advisor Chair (’85 BSArch). This year’s Alumni Award went to architect Jen Masengarb (MARH ‘00). Jen, the director of Interpretation and Research at the Chicago Architecture Foundation, gave an inspiring talk encouraged all of us to engage youth in historic preservation.

Eric Groft, OvS Principal, (’84 MLA) attended this year’s event with his son Forest, a senior at nearby Lynchburg College.