Because of the building’s immediate location across the street from FSU’s growing Kendall College of Art and Design, the team worked closely with FSU and Kendall to rehabilitate and repurpose the building as a twenty-first century academic learning environment for art and design programs, while preserving its historic, character-defining features. A unique public/private partnership combined grants, tax credits and private investment to make the project financially feasible. 

Exterior granite was repaired and cleaned, original windows were restored and retrofitted with insulating glass, and the roof was completely replaced. Primary historic interior spaces - with elaborate stone floors, ornamental plaster work, and detailed wood trim - were restored as primary circulation and gathering spaces.  Select interior walls were removed to create larger classroom and studio spaces. Complete new M&E systems were integrated with the existing structure to create contemporary energy-efficient operations for such disparate environments as ceramics studios, metal welding, lecture spaces, galleries, and offices. Once-covered skylights were uncovered and restored to allow for natural light. Specialized gallery and art storage spaces also incorporate special M&E systems for temperature and humidity control, as well as lighting.