The plaque outside informs passersby that on Oct. 6, 1817, the cornerstone of the University was laid on this very spot in the presence of James Madison, James Monroe and Thomas Jefferson. A sign on the door reads "Colonnade Club," but neither the plaque nor the sign reveals the community that meets behind the doors of Pavilion VII.
In addition to being the oldest building in the Academical Village, Pavilion VII is home to the Colonnade Club. The 100th-anniversary celebration of the club, founded April 23, 1907 by 42 faculty members, comes to a close this month.
Intended "to foster social, cultural, and intellectual interchange among its members and to promote the welfare of the University and its faculty," the pavilion features eight guest bedrooms, which members may reserve. The club also hosts a variety of events and allows members to reserve space in Pavilion VII for meetings and receptions.
The Colonnade Club offers membership to all full-time teaching and administrative faculty, according to its Web site. The club also offers membership by nomination to other members of the University community.
The club is run by the Board of Governors and the club business staff, including a general manager and assistant manager. Larry Mueller, who has served on the board for a number of years, was elected president two years ago. He said his responsibilities encompass both chairing Board of Governors meetings and overseeing the complete operations of the club, including everything from fundraising to the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the club.
"I hoped that I could provide some leadership in the club and also assist with bringing younger faculty members into the club, putting a younger face on the leadership," Mueller said.
Kristin Grimes, general manager of the club's business office, said her role involves overseeing the entire operation of the club. She works with Assistant Manager Kristen Riggs, who is in charge of reservations for overnight rooms and event space, as well as organizing events for club members.
The club hosts approximately 25 to 30 events per year. Riggs said Oktoberfest was one of her favorites from this past year.
"That was a new event," she said. "We started that from scratch and had an amazing turnout -- to see new events do so well is exciting. We worked with a beer distribution company [and] tried to select very different kinds of beer. We selected about five and then we worked with catering to come up with a good pairing of food with the beer. It was nice to see everyone mingle around."
Grimes mentioned tailgates as one of her favorite events, particularly because "the fans are excited about supporting the team." She also enjoys the club's picnics, which are among the many family-oriented events the club holds.
Another event, to take place Jan. 18, is the closing event for the 100th-anniversary celebration of the club: a presentation reviewing some of the original documents from Pavilion VII and the Colonnade Club, followed by a reception.
Christine Patrick, a member of the Board of Governors, has been researching materials for this presentation. She pointed out how the documents show the progression of the club through the ages.
"Of particular interest may be the purchase of furnishings for the club over the years," Patrick said. "Among the first items purchased in 1907 was a pool table. Members were charged 5 cents per game, and it is clear from some individual members' accounts that some spent too much time at the pool table."
She also mentioned that purchases reflected technological advances, such as the purchase of the first radio in 1932, and in 1939, a radio-phonograph component.
In addition to this history, those involved with the club enjoy other aspects of the experience.
"My favorite part of the job is getting to know the U.Va. community, including the faculty and students," Grimes said. "And also, it's a privilege to just work on the Lawn and interact daily with the Lawn residents."
Riggs echoed a similar sentiment.
"I absolutely adore it," Riggs said of her job. "It's a really great place to be -- it's sort of like a little family here. We're all very close, and there's only four of us here on a day-to-day basis."
She also mentioned how lucky she feels to work on the Lawn, pointing out that it is "such a wonderful place from a historic standpoint and it's just beautiful."
Though Riggs said she also felt fortunate because this job "fell into [her] lap," others have progressed to their positions within the club more gradually.
"The club has been very important to me since my first days on the faculty" 15 years ago, Mueller said, noting that the club has provided an opportunity to get to know his co-workers better.
"At the Darden School, I am slightly removed from Central Grounds and that activity, but this allows me to make friends of the colleagues I have across the University and better understand how our whole educational system is growing and caring for our students," Mueller said. "I feel like I have the opportunity to have great friends among all the different schools and different departments across this University as a result of being a member of this club."
He added that he always tries to convey that even though faculty members are working to attain tenure and further their research, the club "always provides a source of encouragement."
"It's a place where faculty can enjoy one another's company and share insights that is not really available outside of one's own department," Mueller said. "I just hope more and more faculty will choose to join and be a part of this collegial environment."
For the alumni who stay in Pavilion VII's guest rooms, there is yet another meaning to be found within the club.
Cham Light, a 1976 graduate, lived on the Lawn during his last year of undergraduate studies.
"My sort of love affair with Colonnade Club really began when I was a student," he said. "I always thought that if I had the chance to join the Colonnade Club, I would be interested. There came a time when I had the opportunity to do it, and [I did]."
Light and his wife have stayed in the club about 10 times since 2001, when Pavilion VII was renovated. Light mentioned the hospitality of the staff and the opportunity to see faculty from his days at the University as reasons why he enjoys being a member of the Colonnade Club. He also highlighted location as the "nicest thing" about the club.
"You can park there and walk to anything you want to do," Light said. "Location is a prime aspect of the attractiveness of the facility. And then there's just the history of the club itself. The upstairs room that faces the Lawn is the one Jefferson would stay in -- it's very well documented. There's a lot of history when you're in the facility -- that's something meaningful to me."
Light said he was fortunate enough to be exposed to the Lawn and the older part of the University, but realizes not all students make that effort.
"The Lawn the year I graduated was voted the most significant architectural achievement in the United States by the American Institute of Architecture, and when the millennium came around, it was [selected] the most significant architectural achievement in the Western Hemisphere [for the millennium]," Light said. "As students, or anyone here, we are exposed to literally some of the most beautiful surroundings in the world. I just urge students to take advantage of that opportunity and expose themselves to the Lawn"
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