Special people are needed to renovate a special place. The University of Virginia’s iconic Rotunda, designed by University founder Thomas Jefferson and later re-envisioned by famous American architect Stanford White, has been undergoing an extensive renovation and restoration that’s approaching its conclusion this summer.

Behind the project’s scaffolding and construction fencing, a number of highly trained and specialized artisans and craftspeople from the University and beyond have been hard at work on the many intricate details required for the renovation of a nearly 200-year-old building that, with the rest of the Academical Village, is on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.

The range of these projects spans from careful work restoring a plaster eagle on the front portico to designing new student spaces to make sure the Rotunda remains at the heart of the University’s academic mission.

Meet a few of the many artisans and craftspeople behind the work and learn more about their specialized projects and the skills required to complete them.