Rollins College Wins Awards for Historic Preservation

Casa Feliz recently presented the “Friends of Casa Feliz Award for Outstanding Preservation” to Rollins College for its rehabilitation of the historic Pinehurst Cottage and restoration of the Knowles Memorial Chapel. Created last year, this is the second year the Friends of Casa Feliz Award has been presented.

“Rollins’ restoration of the Knowles Chapel and rehabilitation of Pinehurst Cottage exemplify our ideal of valuing and preserving our community's significant historic structures,” Casa Feliz Chairman Jack Rogers said.

The purpose of the award is to honor a local person or institution for an outstanding historic preservation project. The mission of the Friends of Casa Feliz is to support the stewardship and preservation of our community’s rich and historic resources through education and advocacy.

Pinehurst Cottage, constructed in 1886, is the only remaining original structure on Rollins’ campus. Last summer, all of the exterior wood was replaced. In an effort to restore the building to its historic design, the College asked Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas & Company, an architectural firm with expertise in historic preservation, to help guide the process.

“After doing some research in the Rollins archives, we discovered the original building had shutters,” said Rollins Vice President & Treasurer George Herbst. “As a result, added those shutters back.” The building is also now accessible to disabled users. “Throughout this renovation, we maintained a great sensitivity to the historic nature of the building,” said Herbst.

Another major renovation project last summer focused on the Knowles Memorial Chapel. For the first time in the 75 years since the Chapel was built, it underwent a masonry restoration. All the natural stone was restored and damage to the stone and finishes was repaired. Other renovations included exterior paint, new lightning protection on the steeple and addition of another restroom. Ground lighting of the building will soon be installed. Architects with the firms of ACi and Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas were consulted for the project.