The Sprigg Lane Landscape Study is a two-volume report that documents the extensive histories and horticultural inventories of four residential parcels now owned by the University. These properties served as the homes of University professors and their families dating back to the Jefferson era. The Sprigg Lane study has repositioned the newly acquired precinct into the Landscape Framework Plan (2019) for the University, emphasizing its historic and horticultural value.

The evolution of these landscapes generated a wealth of plant biodiversity and a collection of both exotic and native plants. The inventory of plants revealed more than 174 different species, suggesting the importance of the precinct as a haven for horticultural education. The Study articulates connections between the residents including sharing plants, social events, and academic pursuits that give breadth and texture to university life. The existing conditions study identifies ways the precinct fulfills aspects of the University’s sustainability goals based on its biodiversity and approximately 5.2 acres of tree canopy. This data, captured in GIS, is now the baseline for the University’s stewardship and maintenance of these gardens.

The study holds a comprehensive inventory of the historical features of both the structures and the landscape. The findings conclude that the Sprigg Lane landscape is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places at the local level and that collectively, these properties could be considered to form a single historic district with a period of significance spanning from 1835-1964. The study changes the paradigm for typical approaches to campus planning by focusing not only on built structures, but the diverse narratives of the people who lived there, the people who cared for the property, and the landscapes and cultures they cultivated.

LOCATION:
Charlottesville, VA

CLIENT:
The University of Virginia

PROJECT TEAM:
Liz Sargent Historical Landscape Architect - Historical Research
Roger W. Ray & Associates - Surveyor