Heart of Old Main
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MSA’s library made new again with stunning two-level renovation.
Walking into the foyer of Old Main and staring around can take your breath away.The towering sixteen-foot ceilings beg you to look up and around before the meadows, grazing farm animals, surveyor’s compass, and baseball game carved into the greenish blue soapstone school seal catch your attention and pull your eyes down. The grand staircase known today as “senior stairs” stares at you and the north and south halls stretch in perfect symmetry to your right and left. The meticulous details and old-world craftsmanship are glorious to view.
With so much to admire, it is easy to walk right by one of the school’s most remarkable artifacts. Hanging in a modest frame on the south wall is a weather-worn sheet of paper. The reflection of light on the glass of the frame makes it difficult to see the treasure within the frame. While it is rarely viewed, this sheet of paper is where our story begins.
The first page of Albert Lybrock’s original architectural rendering of Old Main is within the frame. Every brick and every small detail that we see today is there. These plans were used by Thomas Woodroffe to construct this magnificent Victorian Gothic edifice.
We all love Old Main but who wouldn’t want to see it new again? The Miller School of Albemarle has always combined tradition with innovation. One of the embodiments of this principle is Old Main. To preserve the building’s storied past, we are renovating it for a glorious future.
The recent renovation of the library celebrates both the history of Old Main and the future of learning at MSA.
It is not a coincidence that the Learning Commons and Success Center is adjacent to the library and chapel -- at the heart of Old Main. Learning is at the heart of every great school and our new Learning Commons, Student Success Center, library, and chapel lie at the center of Old Main. It is here that great learning, collaborative and independent study, relationship building, and character development all take place. In this active space, students interact with friends, meet teachers for extra help, work with our professionals from the Success Center, or simply sit quietly and study.
Head of School, Michael J. Drude, remarked: “Miller has embraced the Learning Commons concept of libraries - open spaces that are filled with natural light and have dedicated areas for both collaborative work and individual study. This concept has caught the imagination of our community and donors have stepped up to support it.”
Situated in the core academic heart of its historic High Victorian-Gothic Old Main structure located on campus at its highest point, this significant expansion and renovation project is in the trusted hands of the Caton Construction Group team for their expert execution of architectural designs provided by Design Develop.
Director of Institutional Advancement, Brad Bodager commented: “The state-of-the-art Learning Commons continues 143 years of active learning and educational efforts serving the minds, hands and hearts of every Miller student in the structure which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”
The first phase of this project was the Summer of 2019 completion of the study commons on the third-floor landing and the creation of the Student Success Center. The renovation of Miller’s library is the second phase.
Mr. Drude remarked: “Removal of the drop ceiling and renovations to the floor-to-ceiling windows allow for the space to be filled with natural light - and a spectacular view of Miller’s grounds. The addition of the mezzanine level offers more space for collaboration and continues the school’s goal to make the library more accessible and relevant to its entire student body.”
The SSC and the addition of the study commons area and new library have enabled our female boarding students to study and collaborate in Old Main during evening study halls - something that wasn’t possible in previous years. In addition, our day students are now able to join our boarding population for supervised evening study halls.
MSA’s librarian, Rebecca Velasquez, commented: “The mission of the MSA Library is to support the core values of the Miller School of Albemarle. Efforts include, but are not limited to, promoting the skills that foster life-long learning, providing a collection that reflects the diversity of the MSA community, and the utilization of emerging technologies to stimulate creativity and intellectual curiosity. Acquisition efforts focus on developing a strong and diverse core collection of circulating materials that are well-suited to the academic and recreational needs of the Miller School students.”
Velasquez continued: “In a true testament to the Miller School of Albemarle’s commitments to its original core values and modern groundbreaking student services, this renovation blends innovative adaptable designs with strong classic architectural elements. The newly added second floor loft has fully revealed the iconic Old Main windows, providing fantastic natural light with a breathtaking view of the lotus pond. Tying into the intricacy of the windows, the iron column capitals lend an extra air of grandiosity to this already magnificent space.”
Staring at a building as historic as Old Main, it’s hard not to get nostalgic and think back to all the past glories of the Miller School. But it’s equally tempting to look ahead and think of all the grand things that can—and will—be done with such a capacious site. As always at MSA, to preserve the past we must look to the future. That’s why we are all looking forward to the new Old Main.
