Early sketch of the south end of the Lawn, 1896 Stanford White, architect; sketch by the architect Pencil on paper, 9 ¾ x 8 in. University Archives (RG-31/1/2:2.421)

White had tremendous respect for Jefferson’s Academical Village. He said of the design: “the University of Virginia has such an exquisite group of collegiate buildings, which in their singleness are unique in the world.” When the Board of Visitors asked him to close the south end of the Lawn with a series of new academic buildings, White admitted: “I'm scared to death. I only hope I can do it right.” He took advantage of the terracing and natural slope of the Lawn, creating a separate terrace below the original Jefferson-designed spaces so that the academic buildings he distributed on each of its three sides--Cabell Hall, Rouss Hall, and Cocke Hall--would appear smaller and complement, rather than compete with, the Academical Village.