K. Edward Lay
Education
B.Arch., Penn State University
M.Arch., Kansas State University with Philosophy Minor
Biography
K. Edward Lay, Cary D. Langhorne Professor Emeritus of Architecture and an authority on American architecture in particular Virginia, among his publications, his books, The Architecture of Jefferson Country and A Virginia Family and Its Plantation Houses, both received book awards. His History of the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia and his audio-visual lectures on Architecture in Virginia are on-line. He was a frequent lecturer and seminar leader on American Architecture, often conducting architectural tours and lectures of Virginia buildings for organizations throughout America. He originated three courses resulting in over 300 bound volumes and donated thousands of documents and photographs to the university's Special Collections and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
Prior to beginning college teaching in 1963 and being registered in several states and with a national NCARB certification, he practiced as an architect in Pennsylvania for several years, first for a Fllw Protégé, and with his wife Margaret Fleming Lay, Landscape Architect and Artist. As an historic preservation consultant, a team project in Georgia resulted in honor awards by the National Trust and the American Society of Landscape Architects. He was also a research consultant for the 1791 Cape Henry Lighthouse restoration. He was Visiting Professor to Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, taught in UVA's summer abroad program in Italy, taught at the Campbell Center for Historic Preservation in Illinois, was Supervisory Architect for both the Historic American Engineering Record and the Historic American Buildings Survey of the National Park Service in Pennsylvania, and preservation consultant with the National Park Service for Historic Green Springs.
He was a recipient of the UVA Alumni Association's Distinguished Professor Award, the Penn State Alumni Achievement Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Preservation Piedmont. He was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa honorary, Tau Sigma Delta honorary, and the Raven Society and received honor awards for Historic Preservation efforts from the TJ Chapter of Preservation Virginia, the Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Mayor of Charlottesville, and a lifetime achievement award from Preservation Piedmont.
Over the years, he received grants from the from American Philosophical Soc, German DAAD, Navy/Marine Corps, Perry Foundation, C Veneable Minor Found, C-ville/Albemarle Foundation, UVA Deans Forum, and TJ Chapter of APVA.
He was Chair of both Charlottesville's Board of Architectural Review and Historic Landmarks Commission, served on the Boards of the Center for Palladian Studies in America, Battersea Inc, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Museum, Albemarle County Historic Preservation Committee, Preservation Piedmont, TJ Branch of Preservation Virginia, Pioneer America Society, Camp Holiday Trails, Camp Faith, and Old Randolph Macon College advisor and was VP of Albemarle Co Historic Society and Victorian Soc in VA. He was a juror for national awards, such as the National Trust's Great American Homes jury and the Preservation Awards for the NC AIA.
