Virginia State University announced this week that Azurest South, also known as the Alumni House, has been designated as one of the nation’s newest National Historic Landmarks. The designation was part of a group of 19 new NHLs revealed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. 

The designation is the highest federal recognition for a property’s historical, architectural or archaeological significance.

“This is a proud moment for Virginia State University and one of its most cherished landmarks,” said Franklin Johnson-Norwood, VSU’s executive director of alumni engagement and advancement services. “This designation underscores Azurest South’s enduring significance in American architectural history.”

Azurest South was built in 1939 by VSU alumna Amaza Lee Meredith, one of the first documented female African American architects. The building, considered a notable example of residential design at the time, also served as the home of Meredith and her partner, Dr. Edna Meade Colson, until Meredith’s death in 1984. Azurest South also is featured in the “Dear Maize” exhibit at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University, which showcases the work of Meredith and her impact on architecture, culture and design.

The structure is one of the few remaining examples of International Style architecture in Virginia. In 1986, it became VSU’s official Alumni House, fulfilling Meredith’s goal of establishing such a facility on campus.

The NHL designation highlights the building’s value in reflecting the historical and cultural significance of the United States.

“As America’s storyteller, it is our privilege at the Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service, to tell our nation’s history and honor the many historical chapters and heroic communities that brought us to where we all are today,”

Haaland said in a news release. “These newly designated historic landmarks join a list of the nation’s premier historic and cultural places, all of which were nominated through voluntary and locally led stewardship.”

In 2024, VSU received a $150,000 grant to assist in the conservation of Azurest South. The funding, provided by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, will support efforts to preserve the property for future generations.