Montfort Hall was designed by architect William Percival for William Montfort Boylan in 1858. The house is Italianate style, with classical influences displayed throughout its detailing, symmetry of exterior composition and interior center hall plan. The centerpiece of the house’s interior is its magnificent rotunda supported by four Corinthian columns, lit from above by a stained-glass window mounted in the polygonal cupola on the roof. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a Raleigh Historic Landmark, it is one of the few remaining pre-Civil War mansions in the area.
The former residence has been lovingly restored by MH Boylan LLC into a boutique hotel and events venue, The project successfully utilized State and Federal historic tax credits and received a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Raleigh Historic Development Commission for all changes to the exterior as well as for the master landscape plan of the nearly one-acre site. The hotel has nine ensuite guest rooms that can sleep up to twenty guests and retains many original details such as wood flooring, fireplaces, pocket doors and window shutters, a grand stair, plaster detailing and ceiling medallions.
The owners teamed up with Maurer Architecture and Greg Paul Builders to bring their vision for the property to life. Other design professionals included Atlantec Engineers, Ross Linden Engineering and Associated Fire Protection. The Timmons Group led the civil and landscape design of the property. The design team worked closely with the owners to design a program and floor plan that allowed the continued use of the building in a way that made sense and that respected the historical context as well as architectural integrity of the building. A modest second story addition and stair tower were added to the building’s rear elevation.
Rehabilitation began in early 2019 and the Heights House opened in May 2021. Furthering their goal of sharing the historic property with the Raleigh community, the owners opened the Parlor at Heights House to non-hotel guests in June 2022. Neighbors and Raleigh residents can now enjoy the Heights House common spaces including the Parlor, Drawing Room, Dining Room, and Library as part of an intimate yet relaxed cocktail experience.
The Board of Directors of Capital Area Preservation, Inc. is pleased to present a 2022 Anthemion Award to MH Boylan LLC; Maurer Architecture; Greg Paul Builders, Inc.; Atlantec Engineers, PA; Ross Linden Engineers, PA; Associated Fire Protection; The Timmons Group for the Commercial Rehabilitation & Adaptive Reuse of Montfort Hall, 308 South Boylan Avenue, Raleigh.