October 10, 2024
by Jere W. Morehead, President
The University of Georgia recently completed a $30 million renovation of the Holmes-Hunter Academic Building, one of the most iconic buildings on our campus. The building is named for Charlayne Hunter-Gault and the late Dr. Hamilton Holmes, Sr., the first African American students to enroll at UGA. We were honored to have several members of the Holmes family in attendance at the very meaningful dedication ceremony that took place on October 4.
The renovation was supported by a generous $15 million gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation with additional funding from Georgia Power Company, Regions Bank, and the Correll Family Foundation. Blending historical elements and modern materials, the project restored several original features of the building while improving accessibility and functionality for the UGA community.
The project also included tributes to the building’s namesakes—among them a courtyard with two steel bench sculptures by Athens artist Harold Rittenberry, Jr. Inside the building are portraits of Holmes and Hunter-Gault by artist Richard Wilson as well as photos from key moments in the trailblazers’ lives and distinguished careers.
Thanks to the courage and determination that Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault showed more than 60 years ago, generations of students at the University of Georgia have followed in their footsteps and are carrying on their legacy of extraordinary impact.