ARTICLE
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Tampa Bay Chapter named its highest annual awards, the Honor and Design Awards, at the Celebrate Design awards reception on Thursday, November 7th at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Among the awards named was a Merit Award in the Historic Preservation Category for the Eli Witt Cigar Company / Gore Building Restoration located at 238 N. Massachusetts Ave., in Downtown Lakeland, Florida. This honor recognizes a project that demonstrates a commitment to excellence in the architectural profession. The design for this restoration was led by Architect Jon Kirk, AIA, Principal at Straughn Trout Architects, and constructed by Rodda Construction of Lakeland. Accepting the award was Jon Kirk, AIA, Principal & Project Architect Constructed in the 1920s, the Gore Building is a 20,000 SF, two-story structure that has served an array of uses throughout its history, including a service station, grocery store, and most notably, a distribution center for the Eli Witt Cigar Company. The preservation effort took shape at a prominent corner of a bustling downtown urban setting. In an area otherwise experiencing rapid vertical development, it was paramount that the building remained rooted in its original architectural style—yet blended with the contemporary context. The original structure features the Mediterranean Revival architectural style, reflected in its stucco and brick cladding, terracotta barrel tiles and glazes tiles on the roof parapet, and pierced attic vents. The building’s redesign was intrinsically centered around the history and ethos of the Cigar Company. Many deteriorated historic features were repaired—rather than replaced. Those features of which the severity of deterioration required replacement, new features match the old in design, color, texture, and, where possible, materials. The existing storefront was removed and replaced by a new aluminum storefront with a defined brick and glass bulkhead, display windows and transom windows. The storefront was recessed on the northeast corner and north elevation of the building to provide outdoor dining space, but the support columns of the original storefront remained. Existing door and window openings on the north elevation were removed and a centrally located recessed entry was developed on this façade. The entry is now enclosed with decorative wrought iron gates. The west elevation of this building was altered through the removal of existing windows and openings and two new aluminum storefront windows were installed along with the addition of a gated outdoor seating area. All exteriors were repainted, and the barrel and glazed tiles on the building were preserved. The renovation encapsulated the strong desire of both the owner and design team to preserve spaces of historical significance. Through continual collaboration and thoughtful design strategies, this structure will be a space where its rich history will echo within its walls for years to come.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Tampa Bay Chapter named its highest annual awards, the Honor and Design Awards, at the Celebrate Design awards reception on Thursday, November 7th at The Coliseum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Among the awards named was a Merit Award in the Historic Preservation Category for the Eli Witt Cigar Company / Gore Building Restoration located at 238 N. Massachusetts Ave., in Downtown Lakeland, Florida. This honor recognizes a project that demonstrates a commitment to excellence in the architectural profession. The design for this restoration was led by Architect Jon Kirk, AIA, Principal at Straughn Trout Architects, and constructed by Rodda Construction of Lakeland.
Accepting the award was Jon Kirk, AIA, Principal & Project Architect
Constructed in the 1920s, the Gore Building is a 20,000 SF, two-story structure that has served an array of uses throughout its history, including a service station, grocery store, and most notably, a distribution center for the Eli Witt Cigar Company. The preservation effort took shape at a prominent corner of a bustling downtown urban setting. In an area otherwise experiencing rapid vertical development, it was paramount that the building remained rooted in its original architectural style—yet blended with the contemporary context. The original structure features the Mediterranean Revival architectural style, reflected in its stucco and brick cladding, terracotta barrel tiles and glazes tiles on the roof parapet, and pierced attic vents. The building’s redesign was intrinsically centered around the history and ethos of the Cigar Company. Many deteriorated historic features were repaired—rather than replaced. Those features of which the severity of deterioration required replacement, new features match the old in design, color, texture, and, where possible, materials. The existing storefront was removed and replaced by a new aluminum storefront with a defined brick and glass bulkhead, display windows and transom windows. The storefront was recessed on the northeast corner and north elevation of the building to provide outdoor dining space, but the support columns of the original storefront remained. Existing door and window openings on the north elevation were removed and a centrally located recessed entry was developed on this façade. The entry is now enclosed with decorative wrought iron gates. The west elevation of this building was altered through the removal of existing windows and openings and two new aluminum storefront windows were installed along with the addition of a gated outdoor seating area. All exteriors were repainted, and the barrel and glazed tiles on the building were preserved. The renovation encapsulated the strong desire of both the owner and design team to preserve spaces of historical significance. Through continual collaboration and thoughtful design strategies, this structure will be a space where its rich history will echo within its walls for years to come.