Preserving Historic Hardscapes

Historic landscapes often include hardscape elements like brick paths, cobblestone streets and granite curbstone. These are sometimes more difficult to source than modern materials, but with the right design they can be restored.

The first concrete panel of Orlando’s Round Building is in the process of being repurposed as a sundial, thanks to the dedication of the Schweizer Fellows and some funding. Website

The Round Building

SS The Round Building was built in the waning days of low Modernism, using lower-cost concrete to achieve a style of elegance that might have been possible in aluminum. Its circular shape and distinctive brise-soleil latticework make it a stylistic anomaly among the neighborhood’s early twentieth century apartments and houses.

Despite their lack of popularity in modern times, the rounded shape of buildings has many benefits. From an energy perspective, a circle encloses the largest area for a given amount of perimeter, which reduces the need for resources. Round structures are also safer from severe weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes and tsunamis as they move naturally around the structure rather than getting caught up on corners or “air-planing” off a roof.

This section offers background and context for the concepts of significance, integrity, and authenticity outlined in Chapter 3. Understanding these principles helps to guide decisions regarding the preservation of historic structures. It also helps to ensure that new construction is compatible with existing character defining features.

The American Federal Building

The Conservancy’s first priority for Federal Hall has been to meet its immediate building preservation and restoration challenges. This has included raising funds to address critical drainage issues and repair the grand staircase.

Mayne’s Federal Building embodies Moynihan’s call for new GSA buildings to demonstrate “the dignity, enterprise, and vigor of the American government.” The building’s southern side features an urban park available to the community.

In addition, the top 13 floors of the building do not require air conditioning by using a nightflush system that takes advantage of diurnal temperature shifts to remove heat energy from the exposed concrete walls through ventilation windows opened at dusk. The resulting “night glow” creates a spectacular visual effect.

The Nils M. Schweizer Fellows at Central Florida Modern

Few people have left a more significant mark on the architecture of Central Florida than Winter Park architect Nils Schweizer. A student of Frank Lloyd Wright, Schweizer brought the mid-century modern style to the region and many of his buildings still stand today.

The Round Building is one of those structures. It was built in 1954 and sits in the footprint of a new performing arts center planned for downtown Orlando. Its most distinctive feature is a circular concrete wall that covers the lower portion of the building.

Central Florida Modern has asked students in the Valencia, UCF and University of Florida 2+2+2 architecture program to design a way to reuse the Round Building’s geometric concrete brise soleil somewhere else in the city. The group hopes competition entries will generate excitement, support, funding and a new purpose for this vestige of Orlando’s Modern history. Thompson says that in historic projects, it can be important for hardscapes like patios and walkways to look as if they have been there for a while instead of looking newly installed.

The Cameo Theater

Designed by a local architect, the Cameo features a varied roof line with short parapet walls. The flat portion directly above the interior lounge is capped by an engaged internal chimney, while a short concrete battlement accentuates the corner of the north and east elevations.

A raked (sloped) floor and decorative walls define the theater lobby, which includes a counter and opening to the snack bar. The north wall contains an uncarpeted bell-shaped niche topped with a black ceramic pedestal drinking fountain, and is framed by half-round concrete pilasters with vertical concrete reeding.

Today, the Cameo hosts concerts for a wide range of musical genres. While moderate alterations have occurred, the building retains its original raked floor, lobbies and auditorium. This is a wonderful example of how to preserve a historic structure while introducing it to a new generation of music lovers. It also highlights the role that culturally resonant art plays in creating strong connections and community.