Jepson Alumni Center
Site: South side of campus off of College Road, main campus entrance is off of Crenshaw Way
Move date: Bottomley House was moved to campus on March 24, 1996
Opened: October 3, 1997
Architect: Marcellus Wright, Cox and Smith
Size: Approx. 28,300 square feet
Although the Jepson Alumni Center is a modern facility part of its history dates back to 1915. In that year, William Lawrence Bottomley, an eminent New York architect, designed and built his first house in the Richmond area for Colonel and Mrs. J.C. Wise of Richmond. The historic, 6,000-square-foot home was located just across the road from the University of Richmond campus. In 1995, the Bottomley House was given to the University by neighbors and benefactors Mr. and Mrs. William H. Goodwin Jr. The next spring, the house was moved across River Road onto a one-acre site on campus. Renovations on the house began later that year.
The Bottomley House is the centerpiece of the Jepson Alumni Center. It is used as a guesthouse for special visitors to the University. It offers five bedrooms furnished with antiques and reproductions. Each room is decorated in its own unique style, and all have private baths, televisions and separate connections for laptops. The Kilpatrick Suite, the master bedroom, offers special amenities including a four-poster canopy bed and a whirlpool tub.
Guests also may relax in the Rosenthal Living Room, with its baby grand piano and antique music box, or the walnut-paneled Richmond College Library with its historic book collection and fireplace. Paintings by Theresa Pollak decorate the library and living room. Luncheons or dinners may be scheduled in the Hartz Dining Room, featuring hand-painted wall covering and a striking gold-leafed chandelier.
The architectural firm of Marcellus Wright, Cox, and Smith designed the new wings on the alumni center. In addition to the Bottomley house, the center contains the Office of Alumni Affairs, The Richmond College Library, a banquet pavilion, a conference facility and office areas. This multipurpose conference facility includes state-of-the-art conference and meeting spaces that are available to alumni, University constituents and non-profit and corporate organizations. The Jepson Alumni Center is approximately 28,300 square feet.
Robert S. Jepson, Jr. is a 1964 graduate of the Robins School of Business. While attending the university he won the Norman Award for outstanding business school senior; was president of the school’s student government; and was president of Omicron Delta Kappa. In 1975 Jepson received a master’s degree in commerce from the Robins School of Business. In 1987 the University presented an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree to Mr. Jepson. He was awarded the President’s Medal in 2003 for his support to the University of Richmond. He and his wife have contributed to Jepson Hall, the Jepson Alumni Center, the Alice Andrews Jepson Theater in the Modlin Fine Arts Center, and the W. David Robbins Chair in Strategic Management. Mr. Jepson currently serves on the University of Richmond’s Board of Trustees and is playing a leadership role in the University’s capital campaign “Transforming Bright Minds.”
Sources:
UR website
Collegian 1996 – 2002
University Communications’ News Archive
Mary Maxwell