Bill Text: VA HR574 | 2015 | 1st Special Session | Enrolled


Bill Title: Commending the Lawn at the University of Virginia.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2015-08-17 - Bill text as passed House (HR574ER) [HR574 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2015-HR574-Enrolled.html

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 574
Commending the Lawn at the University of Virginia.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, August 17, 2015

WHEREAS, in 2014, the Lawn at the University of Virginia was named one of the American Planning Association's Great Places in America in the Great Public Space category; and

WHEREAS, the Great Places in America award honors streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces of exemplary character, quality, and planning; recipients meet rigorous standards of architectural significance, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement; and

WHEREAS, designed by Thomas Jefferson as part of his Academical Village concept, the Lawn at the University of Virginia (UVA) is a centralized green space, surrounded by residential and academic buildings and gardens; and

WHEREAS, the Lawn at UVA broke from the traditional English university quadrangle design and has served as a model for other prestigious universities in the United States; the most prominent and recognizable feature of the Lawn at UVA is the Rotunda, which was originally designed as a library; and

WHEREAS, the open-ended design of the Lawn at UVA was meant to encourage a mixed-use campus, where students could live, learn, dine, and enjoy recreational activities in a shared space, and facilitate student and faculty interaction on a regular basis; and

WHEREAS, the University is committed to the upkeep and preservation of the Lawn at UVA as a unique component of Virginia history; the Rotunda is currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation to restore historical features and enhance infrastructure, which is scheduled for completion in 2016; and

WHEREAS, the Lawn at UVA and its surrounding structures are listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register, the National Register of Historic Places, and the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and attracts 100,000 visitors to the area each year; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Lawn at the University of Virginia hereby be commended on its selection as one of the Great Places in America; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the University of Virginia as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the University's commitment to upholding Thomas Jefferson's mission to make the Lawn at the University of Virginia an exceptional place to live and learn.

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