FEATURED PROJECT:
The Columns Restoration
One of the State’s best known and last remaining examples of Greek Revival buildings, the Columns, built in 1830, is part of the Park Avenue National Register Historic District. The Columns, then standing at the corner of Park and Adams Streets, served both as the headquarters for Florida’s first chartered bank, the Bank of Florida and also as a residence for William Williams, president of the bank. Over the years, the building has also been used as a boarding house, restaurant, public library as well as Sunday school classes for the First Baptist Church. The structure has been the home of the Tallahassee Area Chamber of Commerce since it was moved to the corner of Park and Duval Streets in 1971.
Though several additions and renovations have occurred to the building over its 170 year history, little was changed on the exterior of the building thus preserving its columned facade. The move in 1971 caused some damage to the building. The original brick facade was cracked under most of the windows. The South porch had been removed and plywood was used to infill former doors and windows on the rear. The roof had been replaced by an historically inappropriate cedar shake roof. Extensive wood rot had set in at the front porch structure and the decking of that porch had been covered with fiberglass. In 1993, with many of the building systems failing and the extensive deterioration to the exterior, the Chamber undertook the task of raising the money to do an extensive restoration to the Columns.
In 1994, Johnson/Peterson Architects and Ajax Construction began the restoration which included the reconstruction of the historic west porch/verandah, masonry repairs and repainting, installation of an historically appropriate standing seam metal roof, rebuilding and/or repairing the historic doors and windows, applying new wood decking to the front porch, replacing the south steps, repairing the wood rot and repainting the wood doors, windows and trim. The basement walls were repaired to stop leaks and the mechanical/electrical systems were upgraded. The building was fitted with a sprinkler system throughout to bring it up to fire code and accessible restrooms were provided to make the building meet accessibility codes.
The restoration was truly a community effort. Although the Chamber of Commerce led the campaign, the Florida Department of State, as well as the City of Tallahassee assisted with special grants to help restore and preserve this architectural treasure.
