The President’s Mansion will begin repairs and renovations on Dec. 15 with construction, which are expected to last around eight months.
The preservation project will include renovations to the exterior and interior, with the most significant change being the replacement of the stucco around the exterior.
The construction will also repair and refurbish windows, add an ADA-accessible elevator and refresh public spaces.
“This project has been in the planning phase for several years, with construction expected to take about eight months,” said Alex House, associate director of communications for the University. “2026 graduates are encouraged to make early plans for photos or consider one of the many iconic locations on UA’s campus.”
The President’s Mansion will be “restricted or unavailable,” including for senior graduates, for pictures until the tentative completion date of August 2026 due to the renovations.
Mary Kathryn Carpenter, owner of MKC Photography, said students and parents reached out to her about the renovations.
“Everybody’s concerned about it. It’s, you know, we found out about it kind of close to, really, the deadline of when this can happen,” she said. “I mean, it closes in a month. So we don’t have a ton of time to work with this.”
Kali Sturgis, owner of Kali Sturgis Photography, said she thought the location was “a beautiful location to be photographed at.”
“Honestly, I really think that it’s going to be an opportunity for the students to really curate and tailor their sessions to themselves, instead of feeling like they have to be photographed at specific locations,” she said.
According to the photographers, other popular locations on campus include Denny Chimes, Bryant-Denny Stadium and the Gorgas House Museum.
