Iconic architect W. Duncan Lee built houses and part of the Governor's Mansion in Richmond, Virginia

W. Duncan Lee Building DesignPhoto by3 North Screenshot

Richmond's history is full of notable architects, including W. Duncan Lee. However, many Richmonders don't know much about the architect.

Lee was one of the most iconic architects in Richmond’s history. He was born in Ashland and educated in Richmond. He opened his own firm in the city in 1910. Over the next few decades, he designed houses in some of the city’s most notable neighborhoods, including the Fan, Westmoreland Place, and Monument Avenue. He also designed the Tuckahoe Apartments and an elliptical dining room for the Virginia Governor’s Mansion.

Virginia Governor's MansionPhoto byWikipedia Screenshot

Lee designed a 12,500 sq ft mansion at 5407 Cary Street Road that was sold in August 2024 for $9 million after being on the market for only two months. According to the Richmond Association of Realtors, it set the city record for the most expensive single-family home ever purchased.

The house was built by Lee in 1916 and expanded a century later. Designed in the Colonial Revival style, the sprawling floor plan includes seven bedrooms, 8½ bathrooms, a garden room with an original bar, a library, and a fountain.