Hanbury Circle Announced at Visions

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John Paul Hanbury, FAIA
John Paul Hanbury, FAIA

To honor individuals who have contributed at least $10,000 over their lifetime or as part of a bequest — or organizations that have given at a level above $100,000 — the Virginia Center for Architecture announced the establishment of the Hanbury Circle at Visions for Architecture on Nov. 4, 2011. The Hanbury Circle was named for the profession’s esteemed John Paul C. Hanbury, FAIA,  founding principal of the firm Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Co. in Norfolk, who was known widely for his efforts in historic preservation. He generously gave his time to direct the restoration of the Branch House, which became the Virginia Center for Architecture.  As a tribute to his lasting legacy of support to the VCA, the Hanbury Circle has been named in his memory.  Members of this prestigious circle of supporters will be recognized by a special pin and acknowledged on a commemorative sign at the Virginia Center for Architecture.

The Hanbury Circle has several levels to recognize progressive levels of commitment.

At the Bronze level, for total individual gifts of $10,000, the Center recognized:
Stephan F. (Hobie) Andrews, Esq.
Brian J. Frickie, AIA
Thomas L. Kerns, FAIA
Jack H. and Mary Spain
Kenneth Stepka, P.E.
M. Kirk Train, FAIA
R. Scott and Lowell Ukrop
James and Barbara Ukrop
Robert and Jane Ukrop
Joseph E. and Windy Wells

At the Silver level, for individual gifts of $25,000 and above, the Center recognized:
Sarah L. (Sally) Brown
Mary Lily Wiley
Jane C. Wright, FAIA

At the Gold level, for individual gifts of $50,000, and above, the Center recognized:
John W. and Meta R. Braymer
Harry E. Ormston, AIA
G. Truman Ward, Jr., FAIA

And at the Platinum level, for individual gifts of $100,000, the Center recognized:
Mary Clark Roane Downing
T. David Fitz-Gibbon, AIA
Horace G. Freeman, AIA
Mary Wingfield Scott

The Hanbury Circle also honors firms and organizations that have given $100,000 or more.

At the Bronze level, for gifts of $100,000, and above, the Center recognized:
Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Company
Mary Morton Parsons Foundation
W. M. Jordan Company
The Windsor Foundation
AECOM Design
Clark Nexsen Architecture and Engineering
Robert G. Cabell III and Maude Morgan Cabell Foundation

At the Silver level, for gifts of $250,000, and above, the Center recognized:
CapitalOne

At the Gold level, for gifts of $500,000, and above, the Center recognized:
The Dominion Foundation

The Center also recognized the Virginia Society AIA for incalculable support.

John Paul Hanbury Dies

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John Paul Hanbury, FAIADistinguished Virginia member John Paul Conwell Hanbury, FAIA, died from complications related to cancer on Thursday, April 28. The 76-year-old Portsmouth native was a founding principal of the internationally-recognized firm Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Co. After guiding the firm’s historic preservation studio for two decades, he retired in 2005. Hanbury received the Society’s William C. Noland Medal in 1997.

Hanbury, the recipient of numerous awards for both design and service to the profession, was much-admired for his preservation work. “When urban renewal seemed synonymous with tearing down,” noted Carlton Abbott, FAIA, he “proved that imagination, preservation and activism were as effective as bulldozers to change the course of a community.” He guided the restoration of more than two dozen historic structures, including Norfolk’s 1913 Wells Theatre, the 1850 Freemason Street Baptist Church, and the Superintendent’s Quarters at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington. His dedication and passion for saving historic structures contributed to the preservation of Portsmouth’s Olde Towne and the restoration of many of its significant structures. Undoubtedly, his most celebrated work was the award-winning restoration of the 1813 Virginia Executive Mansion. The project required exhaustive research and garnered numerous awards and national attention.

Hanbury was also noted for his volunteer service to his profession and community. His advice to others in his firm was, “If you believe that something is important, go lead it. Make a difference in the community.” To that end, he directed a loving restoration of the 1919 Branch House, transforming it into the Virginia Center for Architecture and home to the Virginia Society AIA. “John Paul (and his firm) made a significant and generous gift to us through his pro bono design work for the Center, over which he lavished such loving attention,” said the Center’s Founding President and Society CEO John Braymer.  

“John Paul was a driving and shaping force for our firm. He led by example. He personally taught us so much about how to be professional, how to respect clients, how to respect the work we do, and he helped us understand why what we do is important. He was one of a kind,” said his colleagues. “He will be missed.”

A memorial service was held May 10 in Kilmarnock before interment in the Historic Christ Church churchyard near his home, Massaponax, in Irvington.