ATLANTA — Agnes Scott College’s Anna I. Young Alumnae House is now open to the public after a yearlong major renovation.
The house, the first building in Decatur to be designed for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) -certification, supports the college’s commitment to sustainability and serves as a home away from home for Agnes Scott alumnae, trustees and visitors. The house’s meeting spaces are available for rental to the public; and guests with a connection to Agnes Scott may reserve one of the house’s five guest rooms for overnight stays.
The building is the first project on campus to be designed for LEED, the national rating system for “green buildings.” In 2008, the Agnes Scott Board of Trustees resolved that the college would strive for LEED-Silver certification in all future renovations and new buildings.
Built in 1921, the Anna I. Young Alumnae House was the first alumnae house in the Southeast and the second in the United States. It is named for Anna I. Young, an alumna and professor of mathematics from 1898 to 1920.
While the house has been updated and improved in countless ways, the look and general aesthetic remain historic. Paints, trim and fixtures consistent with the house’s original appearance were used whenever possible. A collection of antiques that has been in the house since it originally opened remains part of the historic decor.
Enhancements to the house, funded entirely through gifts from alumnae and other donors, included private bathrooms for each of the guest rooms, wheelchair and handicap accessibility and an elevator.
In addition to updated amenities, the college also resolved to bring the environmental impact of the house into the 21st century. Fortunately, the work and materials needed to help the building meet LEED standards were cost effective and added minimal additional expense to the renovations, said Kim Vickers, director of alumnae relations at Agnes Scott.
Environmental improvements to the house include heat shields for lighting; low-flow toilets, showers and faucet and nontoxic paint. Also included were lower wattage outdoor lamps that reflect light down rather than up in order to save energy and improve sky visibility at night. Roughly 80 percent of the construction waste from the renovation was diverted from the landfill and recycled.
Other improvements were made to take the house backward in time, but with a fresh, new look. The house’s Silhouette Tea Room, which was removed to make room for alumnae offices in the late 1950s, has been restored and is one of the spaces available for public rental.
In a unique personalization of the house, more than 30 alumnae artists contributed more than 40 pieces of work to adorn the walls and shelves. The artists represent generations of Agnes Scott alumnae, with the oldest graduating in the class of 1945 and the youngest in the class of 2006. The pieces range from traditional to contemporary styles and paintings to sculptures.
“It’s a very eclectic mix of styles, artist ages and mediums,” said Vickers. “I can’t imagine a better way to showcase the talent and diversity of our Agnes Scott alumnae.”
Many alumnae donated time rather than art to the renovation project. Three different alumnae committees were involved in each stage of the renovation project, from concept to execution.
“We could never have created such a beautiful and fitting home away from home for Agnes Scott alumnae, students and guests without the hard work and support of our alumnae,” Vickers said.
Agnes Scott’s Alumnae House was completed and rededicated in April during Alumnae Weekend. Since that time, the city of Decatur has had two other buildings that are expected to meet LEED-certification open: a fire station and a residence hall at Columbia Theological Seminary.
For more info about the Anna I. Young Alumnae House, please visit: http://www.agnesscott.edu/alumnae/alumnaehouse
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Agnes Scott College educates women to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times. Students are drawn to Agnes Scott by its excellent academic reputation, exceptional faculty, and metropolitan Atlanta location – offering myriad cultural and experiential learning opportunities. A diverse and growing residential community of scholars, this highly selective liberal arts and sciences college is known for its dynamic and challenging intellectual community. Encouraging students to engage the wider world through study abroad and presenting its curriculum with international context, Agnes Scott College delivers on its promise: The World for Women.