NPR recently ran a story on the efforts of Florida Southern College to restore it's Frank Loyd Wright designed campus. Home to the largest collections of Wright designed buildings for a single site, the structures have fallen on hard times and are in serious danger. As stated in the article:
In the years after they were completed, Florida Southern made
changes to the Wright buildings dictated by the college's needs and the
changing times. Air conditioning was added, and the old library was
converted into offices. The science building was modernized; now, big
ventilation ducts dominate the old roofline.
Baker said Florida Southern has tough decisions ahead about how much of Wright's original vision it can still accommodate. Baker has done similar work on other historic campuses, including The College of William & Mary and the University of Virginia.
Over time, Florida Southern's campus will be seen in the same light as Thomas Jefferson's design for the University of Virginia, Baker said.
"This will be considered one of our most precious sites," Baker said. "Frank Lloyd Wright was a genius who comes around maybe once in 500 years, a mind like that."
Follow the link to hear the segment, read the article and see some photos. Enjoy!
Photo copyright Florida Southern College
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