*December
2010 photos by Mary McNally & © Mary McNally |
S.257
Esplanades, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida Photographed in 1995 and February
2010. As is well known, the college
campus is the largest collection of FLW buildings anywhere. Click here for a page about the
general characteristics of the buildings. One and a half miles of covered walkways
called Esplanades connect the various Wright-designed buildings on
campus. They were built from 1941 to
1958, being extended as additional FLW buildings were added. One of the states non-natural materials
copper lines the edges of most of the esplanades. The walkways are supported by columns that
replicate the shape of the orange groves that once dotted the campus. They employ cantilever construction, so the
columns are to the side of the structures. Florida weather is not kind to any structures,
and the Esplanades were already showing their age in my 1995 photos. The State of Florida provided a $1.6
million restoration grant, which wrapped up around 2008. 1995 photos Peeking out from
the Polk County Science building - 1995 |
2 pre-renovation
esplanades between the Polk Science building and the Annie Pfeiffer Chapel;
note the deterioration near the center of the first photo.
This esplanade
which had added straight columns to bear the weight was restored to their
original cantilevered configuration. See
photos below ▼
February 2010 photos
February 2010 photos
depicting same area near chapel with renovated esplanade
Construction details
in some locations the green sections are merely painted; in others they are
oxidized copper (mainly on the exterior edges)
Esplanade between Thad Buckner Building and Administration Buildings
Damage to one column
allows a glimpse into the construction process
December 27, 2010
photos *
* *
July 17, 2011 photo
Esplanade at back end
of Polk Science Building
March 21, 2012
FLORIDA
SOUTHERN COLLEGE |
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Revised
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