Bancroft Hall: A Guided Renovation Tour & Happy Hour

DEADLINE TO REGISTER – FEBRUARY 18TH by 5:00 pm

Limited to 20 attendees

Tentative Agenda:

2:00PM: Meet at Pedestrian Entrance Gate 1 (on Prince George’s St) Attendees should park downtown or at city dock All attendees will get scanned through as visitors as one group and then meet up with our Guides. Photo ID required.     2:15PM: Tour Begins

4:00 pm    Happy Hour at downtown Annapolis establishment (TBD)

Parking In Annapolis: Note that on-street parking is extremely limited in Annapolis. Click here for information on where to park in Annapolis.

Tour Description: 

In 1895, businessman Robert Means Thompson (USNA, Class of 1868), directed architect Ernest Flagg to develop a master plan for an extensively improved Naval Academy.  A student of the Beaux Arts style of architecture, Flagg created a plan that emphasized precise axial symmetry, hierarchy of importance, and organizational rank. Named for Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, founder of the Naval Academy, the resulting Bancroft Hall as the primary (and only) dormitory building to 4,500 midshipmen. Bancroft Hall is considered the largest single college dormitory in the world with 33 acres of floor space and 4.8 miles of corridors.

Bancroft Hall has been expanded and renovated several times since its original construction. A comprehensive modernization effort began with the Bancroft Hall Recapitalization Program’s groundbreaking ceremony in August of 2024. The phased renovation will bring critical updates to all eight wings and center section (central steps, Rotunda Hall, Memorial Hall, and Smoke Hall). Designed and managed by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) PWD Annapolis, the first phase (noted as BHRP: Phase 0) of the project was awarded to Consigli Construction Co., recently completed this past Winter of 2026.

The tour will include the major work areas of Phase 0, an extensive interior and exterior renovation and preservation effort that included the main exterior front steps, Memorial Hall, Rotunda Hall and Smoke Hall.

During this tour, Eric Hofmann, NAVFAC Project Manager/Architect, and William Cavalieri, NAVFAC Construction Manager will describe the planning, design and construction administration process undertaken in these key areas of the project.

In addition to NAVFAC leading the execution, as mentioned Consigli Construction Co. was the prime General Contractor and created a team of well-crafted workers succeeding this challenge with ease. This project required highly skilled historic preservation craftsmanship, Insite Consulting Architects was our lead Historic Architect QC Specialist helping provide additional insight to execute this effort with quality and ahead of schedule.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about the Historic Renovation and Preservation conducted within Memorial Hall, Rotunda Hall and Smoke Hall within Bancroft Hall, USNA including the process for identifying, planning and workmanship for various materials used.
2. Understand the process for the Historic Renovation and Preservation work for Bancroft Hall’s exterior contributing historic elements, including the front steps and canon bases.
3. Learn about the project team’s process for conducting historic renovation work while preserving iconic murals within Rotunda and Memorial Halls and see the completed work and preserved murals.
4. Discuss the challenges of phased construction and how the project team was able to maintain quality life safety in an active historic dormitory/academic building.

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